Whitmarsh expects only three engine suppliers in 2014
10 August, 2012
Aug.10 (GMM) McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has said that he is not surprised to hear about 2014 engine supplier PURE’s problems.
Whitmarsh, also the current FOTA chairman, said he expects there to be just three engine manufacturers – Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari – supplying turbo V6 engines in 2014.
There had already been doubts in the paddock that HRT and Marussia’s V8 supplier, the British independent Cosworth, may not be in a position to supply engines in 2014 as per the radical new regulations.
And it emerged recently that PURE, the 2014 engine supplier set up by BAR founder Craig Pollock, has paused its operations for financial reasons.
Whitmarsh told Germany’s motorsport-total.com that it was “foreseeable”.
“For me it’s no big surprise,” he said, referring to PURE.
But even though F1 looks set to be left with just three engine suppliers for its 12 teams, Whitmarsh insisted: “As far as I know, Renault is willing to supply up to seven teams.”
And he said Ferrari and Mercedes may also be willing to increase their number of customers.
So Whitmarsh explained that, assuming all that 12 teams enter the 2014 championship, there will be a “solution” in the event that are only three engine suppliers.
One solution, he said, is that V8 engines be still allowed on the 2014 grid, so long as their performance is made equal to the V6s.
“That would be feasible,” admitted Whitmarsh, “[although] personally I don’t think it’s an attractive solution.”
Subbed by AJN.
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Bring in Turbo Charged V10s. Something to rattle your teeth 100 miles away.
@Andy – London
Well said!
Also think of the resources used in producing the batteries and other KERS harnessing equipment.
Total Bull
Is there any F1 fan out there that is actually in favour of the V6 engines?
Considering only 1% of the total carbon emissions come from a race weekend and the other 99% comes from transporting the equipment from race to race, it’s as ridiculous as KERS as a “planet-saver”
So it’s ok to drain the worlds resources by lighting up the Olympic stadium closing ceremony but it’s not ok to have 2.4 V8 engines anymore because F1 needs to “send out a positive message”.
Grrrr!
So rather than cost cutting and making the sport more accessible these turbo V6 engines are so costly that other manufacturers cant afford to produce them another FIA screw up.