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Engine no longer a differentiating factor-Theissen
By BMW Sauber F1 Team August 9 2007
Following a modification of FIA regulations, the continuous development of the engines in Formula One vehicles is permitted only within strict limits. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen speaks about the consequences of the new regulations and regards the field of drivers as far more balanced than in the past.

On March 1st of this year all Formula One teams were required to hand over an engine to the International Automobile Federation FIA for homologation purposes. This engine is considered as the technical platform for the next three years, during which modifications to the aggregate are permitted only within strict limitations.

"We are working on the peripherals, especially the suction and exhaust system," Mario Theissen describes the current work on the BMW P86/7. "It's true: Since the inner life of an engine can't be touched as a consequence of the homologation, the effort and speed put in to the development work have been substantially reduced."

In Theissen's opinion, the engine therefore plays less of an important role in terms of competitiveness compared to a few years ago. For this reason, the engine performance of the individual teams is more similar than in the past. Theissen commented on this topic to German media representatives: "In my opinion, the engine, or rather the engine performance, is no longer the differentiating factor in terms of competitiveness of a Formula One car. I believe the difference between the performances of today's engines is within approximately 30 bhp. Five or six years ago the difference was up to 100 bhp."

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9 Aug, 2007 22:36 Report
levinbzr (IP Logged)
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Re: Engine no longer a differentiating factor-Theissen
how sad

of all the things that are ROAD RELEVANT the engine was the best place for new technology to be tried out and later filtered on down to the consumer

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10 Aug, 2007 01:56 Report
gturner (IP Logged)
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Re: Engine no longer a differentiating factor-Theissen
In some ways I think the emphasis in F1 engine development had largely been on things that weren't road relevant, specifically cranking out higher horsepower at higher and higher rpm. The one thing that was potentially relevant is electronic development, which is the one bad thing about moving to a common ECU.

This is why, in my opinion, a move towards focusing on efficiency and energy recovery seems like a good step towards maintaining a connection with road cars.

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10 Aug, 2007 05:26 Report
popilirol a.k.a. rolren (IP Logged)
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Re: Engine no longer a differentiating factor-Theissen
Since 2001, we proved to have an engine benchmark and we celebrated it in many ways. Now it's time to focus a little bit more on aerodynamics as it's the main draw from now until then. Cheers!

BMW Power

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10 Aug, 2007 05:28 Report
asoft (IP Logged)
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Re: Engine no longer a differentiating factor-Theissen
A manufacturer who can build fast and powerful F1 engines can do similarly good work in road engines. I can't see why a F1 engines RPM or development in general should be limited in order to make it road-relevant! That is plain BS! The aim was never to make the technology road relevant. The aim was, as it is in most FIA regulated motorsports, to make the field as equal as possible between each other improving in this way the spectacle.

If they wanted to make the engines more road relevant they should just limit the amount of fuel each team had to use. That would force engineers to think of ways to make powerful engines fuel-efficient as well.

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10 Aug, 2007 21:10 Report
RKrules (IP Logged)
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Re: Engine no longer a differentiating factor-Theissen
aero development in the #1 curse when it comes to overtaking, which F1 needs lots more of...the turbulance off the rear end should be eliminated/reduced greatly, let the horses flow with lots of power

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