08/09/2010
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Nicknamed the Yellow Teapot, a result of its reliability problems, the Renault RS01 of 1977 was a revolutionary car. Featuring a 1.5-litre engine, the car pioneered turbo-charging in Formula One at a time when Colin Chapman was experimenting with ground effects on the Lotus 78.
If reports are to be believed Formula One is set to return to turbo-charged, ground effect cars from 2013. Pitpass exclusively revealed in April that the sport was considering a return to 1.5-litre turbo engines, as well as reintroducing KERS, which was dumped by the teams for 2010.
New details suggest Formula One is on the brink of agreeing to a 4-cylinder 1.6-litre turbocharged formula, with ground effect and KERS. Ground effect would appear to be an answer for the aerodynamic difficulties modern cars face when attempting to pass - the reduction in downforce rendering the chasing driver standard in the turbulence, unable to overtake - while KERS will effectively give chasing drivers a 'push to pass' power boost as seen in 2009. Drivers will benefit from increased protection with regulations extending the sidepods.
Engine regulations would prevent the astronomical 1000bhp or more seen during the turbo era (1977 - 1988), 2013 regulations restricting engines to 10,000rpm, with a fuel flow system. As a result the engines are expected to put out similar numbers to the 650bhp the current 2.4-litre V8 units produce, while the fuel flow restrictions would prevent a return to the fuel conservation races that became a trademark of racing in the 1980's.
Most teams are understood to be in agreement with the new regulations, though Ferrari has already publicly scoffed the idea. Ferrari's engine man, Luca Marmorini, believes the changes are too significant to be reliably achieved in the available time. Engine lives would increase, with drivers restricted to four engines as opposed to the eight available in 2010. Marmorini is instead in favour of a a 1.8-litre V6 engine, which can be more easily adapted from the current units, and doesn't require such a radical redesign of the cars.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali was more scathing still, warning that Ferrari could leave the sport if the Italian marque did not agree with the technical direction the sport was taking. The Ferrari boss claimed that the team could return to Le Mans or North America "depending how the rules are configured."
More information is expected once the World Motor Sport Council has met, though it looks certain a reduction in engine capacity is expected ahead of 2013.