BMW and Honda drop engine challenge

BMW and Honda have decided to not to appeal against the change in engine capacity from 2006 as a legal challenge would take too much time and would be bad for the sport. The two manufacturers, along with Mercedes, were against the reduction of engines from a 3.0 litre V10 to a 2.4 litre V8, which the FIA proposed on safety grounds.

Dr Mario Theissen.

Photo by BMW PressClub.

The manufacturers believed that restricting design freedom would take away the challenge and changing the engine capacity would increase costs rather than lower them. It was also thought that under the Concorde Agreement no engine changes were allowed until 2007.

Arbitration was discussed but now BMW and Honda have decided not to go ahead. "The BMW WilliamsF1 team has decided, in accord with BAR Honda, not to appeal against the engine regulations," said BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen.

"A legal challenge to the content and form of the modified regulations would take up too much time -- time in which all manufacturers would be forced to undertake costly parallel developments."

"That would not be in the interests of the sport, whose future we aim to strengthen. With this decision we want to contribute to a united position of the engine manufacturers in Formula One."

The 2.4 litre V8 will come into force at the beginning of 2006 and the FIA imposed the regulation "to reduce power, while technical restrictions will limit the rate of power increase". From next season engines will have to last two race weekends.