THE END OF THEWORLD ASWE KNOW IT? NAH!
As if Porsche abandoning LMP1 and sports car racing in favour of Formula E isn't bad enough, the news that the sale of fossil fuelled cars will be banned from 2040 (in the UK at least), is yet another nail in the coffin for us car folk.
Now, I'm not going to pick over this one, save to say that digging into the small print it's not quite as draconian as it sounds, or not quite as draconian as the sensationalist news feeds made it sound. And besides I have no doubt that led by the likes of Porsche, the car boffins can make it happen and are already working to make it happen anyway. And for many people it probably can't come soon enough. Internal combustion is a hassle and expensive. An electric future will be much cheaper and quieter and all those other green things.
What isn't going to happen is an outright ban on petrol powered cars, or perhaps even diesel. Us car folk will become recreational drivers and hobbyists, much as we are now in fact, but more so. Our electric or hybrid or even autonomous cars will tackle the drudgery. Driving a 'proper' living, breathing, car will become a visceral thrill to be enjoyed, the environmental impact viewed as negligible. Sure, we won't be able to drive them into a town or city centre, but then who would want to anyway?
The countryside will still welcome car drivers. Pubs will be packed with classic cars out for a run, circuits will buzz with activity and all those classic racing festivals will take on an even more important and cherished role as folk flock to see history and noise in action, preferably in their own classic.
2040? Bring it on!