Bigger engine means less revs

The new regulation for 2004 that an engine has to last a whole weekend means a bigger unit and a compensatory drop in revs. Needing to run reliably for approximately 800km means the engine has to be stronger and BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said the components would have to be bigger.

"The benchmark of having to use only one engine for the entire Grand Prix weekend is actually a massive technical challenge," he explained. "It doubles the running time to nearly 800 kilometres and means every component has to be designed to be more robust."

"This may require new conceptual solutions, and at the very least means changing the dimensions of existing components. There will be a trend for all components to get rather bigger and heavier."

The effect this will have on the revs produced will result in a loss of power but only a negligible drop. "If the moving parts become bigger and heavier, the engine speed attainable falls and with it falls the power," said Theissen. "Our development goal is to keep these effects to a minimum. However, I am anticipating a slight reduction in revs."

The extension of engine life regulation was part of the cost-cutting measures introduced by the FIA and Theissen believes it will be an effective one, although the initial monetary layout will be the same.

"It is a correct step in this direction," he said of reducing financial overheads. "Although it isn't the case for development costs, and the costs of manufacturing an engine certainly won't get any cheaper. However, as far as the bottom line is concerned, the lower number of engines for a race and test season should bring down the costs."

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments