After only one season of competition, the A1 Grand Prix has already announced major changes to the specification of its race cars, which will be at a level of performance that could rival Formula One. The race that coincides with F1’s off-season, never had any intentions of competing with motorsport’s top echelon, but now the A1 cars for the 2008 season will have a similar output to those in F1.

In its current form, the A1 cars run a 3.4-litre V8 developing around 520hp. Changes for the 2008 season will see an upgrade to a higher output V8, which will produce 720hp with an added overboost button that will take peak power to 750hp temporarily. Meanwhile, F1 cars make-do with around 750-800hp, but we may see a lower figure when the freeze on engine development comes in.

At the end of the day, what matters are TV coverage, sponsors and fans. F1, with its attempts to dramatically change its form via cost cutting and cross selling of technology, is in danger of losing its way in the hearts and minds of its fans. Now there’s news of another racing series, GP2, which is owned by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, starting up in the winter season.

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