(29-12-2014, 11:21 PM)Steady the Edward Wrote: I am sorry Geeky but did you not have to qualify under the old system ??

I'm glad you raised this Eddie.
Yes, you do have to qualify. It used to be that you had a to achieve a fixed time (there was an extra margin allowed for newcomers). Now, there is a different system that, I feel, may put people under even more pressure. In order to qualify, a competitor has to achieve a lap time that is within a certain %age of the 3rd fastest qualifier's fastest time. (I think it is 115%, please correct me if I am wrong).
So, consider this: a newcomer trying to learn the circuit will not know what the time he has to achieve when starting his final qualifying session on Friday. He (or she) may be faced with a Friday scenario where the top three put in a faster lap than they have achieved all week, thus moving the newcomers time further away. 
Friday (last practice) used to be traditionally a time to run in a chain, scrub in a set of tyres or try a new setting. Now, a struggling newcomer may be under pressure to go as fast as possible, whilst chasing an unknown time, in order to qualify. In what way is that safe?
Also, bear in mind, that due to the seeding of the top 10 sidecars, it is often possible for those top runners to get three laps in in one session. The later starters, the ones who need the most practice time, will find it virtually impossible to get three laps done in the remaining time available. ( I will confine myself to sidecars, as that's what I know about!). Therefore, the very people who need the most track time are denied it in favour of the top runners.

In short, under the old system, a competitor would have a  fixed time to achieve, to which they could gradually build up. Now, they might have to go flat out, chasing a moving target.