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EU proposes four-cylinder engines for F1

EU proposes four-cylinder engines for F1

Ralph Hanson January 16th, 2008 Ralph Hanson By Ralph Hanson Author January 16th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 The European Parliament has asked formula one to "change their rules" in favour of more environmentally friendly technology. While the FIA has already paved the way for things like electronic energy recovery systems, smaller engines and bio-fuels, a statement on behalf of EU politicians said motor sport can play a bigger role in "changing attitudes and customer behaviour towards environmentally friendly technology". The statement was part of a European Parliament report (CARS 21) that was adopted with 607 votes in favour, 76 against and 14 abstentions. "The House therefore asks the FIA and others involved in formula one to change their rules accordingly, so that environmentally friendly technologies like bio-fuels, four-cylinder engines or hybrid can be more easily applied," it read. Update: It looks like the FIA is happy with the EU's proposal. FIA happy with EU call for greener F1 F1's governing body has welcomed the findings of a European Parliament report, despite the interpretation that 'CARS 21' is in fact critical of the sport's environmentally-unfriendly policies. A statement issued by the European Parliament called on F1 to "change their rules" in favour of greener technology, because motor sport can play a bigger role in "changing attitudes and customer behaviour towards environmentally friendly technology". The Parliament asked the FIA and teams to contemplate things such as bio-fuels, four-cylinder engines and hybrid technology. A statement issued by the FIA on Wednesday, however, said the report "recognises the leading role played by the" Paris body "in encouraging the development and use of new environmental technologies". FIA president Max Mosley said: "It is immensely satisfying that the European Parliament recognises motor sport's role in developing environmentally-friendly technologies and supports the work undertaken by the FIA in its campaign to make motoring more sustainable in the future. "With the support of the motor manufacturers competing in formula one and with the engineering expertise unique to the sport, the new technical regulations will accelerate the introduction of energy-efficient technologies into the domestic car market," he added. (GMM)
EU proposes four-cylinder engines for F1

EU proposes four-cylinder engines for F1

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The European Parliament has asked formula one to "change their rules" in favour of more environmentally friendly technology. While the FIA has already paved the way for things like electronic energy recovery systems, smaller engines and bio-fuels, a statement on behalf of EU politicians said motor sport can play a bigger role in "changing attitudes and customer behaviour towards environmentally friendly technology".

The statement was part of a European Parliament report (CARS 21) that was adopted with 607 votes in favour, 76 against and 14 abstentions.

"The House therefore asks the FIA and others involved in formula one to change their rules accordingly, so that environmentally friendly technologies like bio-fuels, four-cylinder engines or hybrid can be more easily applied," it read.

Update: It looks like the FIA is happy with the EU's proposal.



FIA happy with EU call for greener F1

F1's governing body has welcomed the findings of a European Parliament report, despite the interpretation that 'CARS 21' is in fact critical of the sport's environmentally-unfriendly policies.

A statement issued by the European Parliament called on F1 to "change their rules" in favour of greener technology, because motor sport can play a bigger role in "changing attitudes and customer behaviour towards environmentally friendly technology".

The Parliament asked the FIA and teams to contemplate things such as bio-fuels, four-cylinder engines and hybrid technology.

A statement issued by the FIA on Wednesday, however, said the report "recognises the leading role played by the" Paris body "in encouraging the development and use of new environmental technologies".

FIA president Max Mosley said: "It is immensely satisfying that the European Parliament recognises motor sport's role in developing environmentally-friendly technologies and supports the work undertaken by the FIA in its campaign to make motoring more sustainable in the future.

"With the support of the motor manufacturers competing in formula one and with the engineering expertise unique to the sport, the new technical regulations will accelerate the introduction of energy-efficient technologies into the domestic car market," he added. (GMM)

Tags: Motorsports

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Comments (12 total)

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  1. By HECTOR #1, Posted: 1/16/2008

    Just reading this is disgusting. Disgusting to see the legislative body of an entire continent waste their time in such passing fads like *being green*. That's the problem with unelected bodies. I would love to see what happens to politicians in the US Congress who propose that NASCAR uses 4 cylinder engines and hybrids...

  2. By bambam #2, Posted: 1/16/2008

    Its not wot they ask for? Its the concept that counts. Politician are not motor heads like you. But they would like to keep the option for the future to change to the right path. F1 should have not permanently lock the engine design for 10 years. If there is room to go to bio-fuel or something
    greener then they should and yes I do agree that 4's are too little but the EU was just asking for FIA to keep it open for future development.

  3. By Raptor #3, Posted: 1/16/2008

    Why bother? Lets just put electric engines inside and rename it from F1 to golf cart championship.

    Some really don't understand what motorsport is really about.

  4. By chris #4, Posted: 1/16/2008

    I dunno guys,.. ive said it a couple times when F1 articles come up.. I'd like to see F1 go down to 4 cylinders. F1 was always about innovation and technology. always. 4 cylinders are the inevitable end to the ICE. the last cars that will be sold on this planet that run on ICE will have 4 cylinder small engines; like the Volt. Ferrari wants to comply with euro emission targets and is going green. just about every car company today is going green in one way or another. Hector, lets just assume for one minute that going green isnt a fad. wouldn't Ferrari and Toyota, Honda, and others gain a lot from an F1 series that requires 4 bangers?

    If you're afraid of making the sport any less manly, lets look to WRC for just one moment. they run 2.0L engines making 350 hp. If we look back to the Group B days (group B cars had a production requirement of 200, instead of 25,000, and had "fewer" technological restrictions), we remember cars like the ford RS200. 450 bhp at 23 pounds boost, from a 1.8L "4 banger". that was almost 30 years ago.

    I'm more than confident that in the last 30 years, we've gained the technology to boost that 450 bhp to the 800 hp F1 levels. sure, they'll have to run turbos, but given the latest headlines that you've read on this site; wouldn't you agree that the future of automotive power will come from increasing boost and technology in ever smaller engines?

    there are tuners getting 900 hp out of STi's and EVO's. why wouldn't Ferrari or Toyota be able to do the same with their 400 million dollar budgets? Personally i think you're selling the series short by insisting that for the next 10 years, everyone has to use the same 3L v10 engine. if F1 teams dont have to WORK ON ENGINE DESIGN FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS... what the hell are they going to do? there's over a billion dollars invested into F1 every year, and they're spending that money to develop engines that no one will ever use.

    put the development money to good use; make them use a 4 banger. how reliable will our production 4cyls be when that day comes?

    heres another idea; you can put in a hybrid system in the car and we wont even change the weight restrictions. if you wanna make a lighter car and shove a heavy electric motor in there, then that just gives you a better advantage. same weight of car, more power, more efficient.

    green tech sucks because the only R&D that the auto companies have is US.

    if anything, forcing 800 bhp from a 2L 4 cyl engine will be nothing shy of entertaining with all the break downs. and then maybe more people would watch.

  5. By jim #5, Posted: 1/16/2008

    4 cyl have been used in F1 before, Coventry Climax among others, so you could say F1 is returning to its roots. As I recall some of the turbo motors in the 70's were also 4 cyl.

  6. By NaBUru38 #6, Posted: 1/16/2008

    If F1 cars change from eight to four cylinders, trees won't even notice. But if billions of spectators see four-cylinder cars turning Eau Rouge at 300 km/h, middle-class people will think "hey, four-cyilinders can be fast! I don't need more to go shopping". That's positive for the environment, just like Schumi saying the Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet is fast.

    Today I drove a 70hp non-turbo Peugeot 206 1.9 XND. It does 0-100 km/h in 17 secs. Was it incredibly slow? Not for me.

  7. By Ryanza #7, Posted: 1/16/2008

    Ignorance abounds in this forum! BMW used a 1.5L(91.53ci) 4 cylinder motor to win the F1 world championship in 1983 and in the 1986 BMW produced the most powerful F1 motor TO DATE rated at OVER 1280hp in qualifying specification, the dyno was only rated to 1280hp and estimates suggest the actual power output was more like 1300hp+! 4 cylinder F1 motors sound fantastic to me as more ordinary people can start to identify with the technology in the sport.

  8. By Alan #8, Posted: 1/17/2008

    I have nothing against 4 cylinder turbo F1, it will take it back to the 80's turbo era. However they'll need to overcome the lag, the reliability issue. I'm sure it will be much better then in the 80's, but with the removal of traction control this year, turbo lag can be quite dangerous.

    Another thing is, i'm not 100% sure, but from memory those turbo 4 cylinder F1 cars were quite thirsty to run

  9. By ed #9, Posted: 1/17/2008

    say it aint so...if they do this what is going to be the point of watching f1 im pretty sure indy cars on a road course would go faster. scew a greener f1 its only a few cars.if they do this i probably wouldnt watch this sport anymore. these governments have ruined the sport. they should go back to v12's slicks and no tcs

  10. ma_Mag00 avatar by Mag00 #10, Posted: 10/6/2008

    Anyone that saw the 4 cylinder F1 cars in the eighties, would never,never, NEVER say BORING..Check out the 1986 Osteriechring race...or berger's first win Mexico same year.. And those were 1500cc engines ..same size as the all conquering TAG Macs from the eighties.. Senna and Prost Berger and Piquet..all in dinky 1000 hp cars.. Those piddlers wer INSANELY FAST!!!!! and the unique driving style was something to see...mag

  11. ma_Mag00 avatar by Mag00 #11, Posted: 10/6/2008

    As an aside, I spoke with Mario at laguna Seca one year in the Eighties when the old track layout was still around and if I recall, the record had been knocked down to just under 52 seconds ..I asked Mr Andretti how fast a contemporary F1 like the JPS Lotus could do , he said in all seriousness .."About 45 seconds..." Several others in the know concur...

  12. ma_Mag00 avatar by Mag00 #12, Posted: 10/6/2008

    BTW, A Four cylinder BMW was oft times FASTER that the Lotus in a straight.. The superior skills of Mr senna was what put JPS on pole so many times .. But after wringing 1200-1300 HP out of the 4 Cylinder BMW, on a qualie, the engines would often grenade..good for 2 laps and kablooie! Only so much that the ICE can stand.. back it down to maybe 800-900 HP and the little boring fours were good for race distance...mag

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