EU wants Formula One to get more environmentally relevant
Up through the mid-nineties, Formula One racing was a bastion of technological innovation. Cars ran with 4-, 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-cylinder engines. There were naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines. They had active suspension systems. Since that time the sports governing body, the FIA has been clamping down with more and more restrictive rules. Cars must run standardized fuels, have V-8 engines of 2.4L displacement and now even have standard engine ECUs. Le Mans style sports car racing on the other hand has actively encouraged alternatives like diesels, biofuels, and different engine types like Wankel rotaries. A report titled CARS 21 published by the European parliament is calling on the FIA to allow for more innovation that can lead to environmental advancements for road cars. The American Le Mans Series is actively moving down this path and provides some of the most interesting on-track action to be found anywhere. FIA president Max Mosely has welcomed the call from the EU, so hopefully we'll see some loosening of the reigns in F1 in the next few years. A lot of safety and performance advancements have come out motorsports over the years and the pace of development could help bring more relevant technology to the road if the rulemakers allow it. [Source: AutoCar, via Autoblog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karl-Uwe Strunzen 6:48PM (1/17/2008)
The latest example that comes to mind are the gearshifts on the steering wheel for some Alfaromeo models.
What if F1 were to switch to electric vehicles? A relatively small race like the World Solar Challenge has helped make improvements in electric vehicles, particularly from the Japanese. If F1 were to go electric I imagine it would be a tremendous help with the kind of investments that are involved.
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