JANUARY 29, 2003

How many engines?

Reports on ITV-F1.com suggest that some of the Formula 1 engine manufacturers are currently building as many as 600 engines a year to service two Formula 1 cars in 17 Grands Prix. If true, this statistic underlines the current need to cut costs in Grand Prix racing. The report also states that there is definite evidence that one of the manufacturers last year built 400 engines.

The reason that so many engines are being built is that rapid prototyping techniques have advanced to such an extent that production is much less of a problem than was once the case and because the V10s now being built are so highly-developed that they have to be thrown away after just one race or test.

We have endeavoured to verify these figures but have yet to find anyone willing to talk openly on the subject.