21/11/2015
NEWS STORY
Mario Illien has confirmed that Ilmor has applied to the FIA to become engine supplier to F1.
Just one week after the FIA officially invited tenders for an independent company to supply an alternative to the existing four manufacturer units, engine guru Mario Illien has confirmed that his company has thrown its hat in the ring.
"Ilmor has applied," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
While the current formula, introduced only last year, uses 1.6 litre engines, the FIA is looking for 2.2-litre V6 twin turbos with no energy recovery systems.
The new unit would be a fairly straightforward step for Ilmor which currently supplies a similar unit for IndyCar.
Meanwhile it is claimed that Advanced Engine Research (AER), an Essex based company which has previously produced engines for WEC, BTCC and GP3, is also considering applying.
The Basildon based company, which was beaten to the deal to supply engines for GP2 by Mecachrome, is understood to have a WEC twin-turbo V6 which would form the basis of the proposed F1 unit.
While Mecachrome is also understood to be preparing to tender, Cosworth, which left F1 ahead of the introduction of the new formula, has ruled out a return at this time.