V8 vs V10
Concern is growing with the manufacturers involved in the Formula One championship in regard to teams using the restricted version of the V10 engine, something that was put to them initially and they refused opting for V8 power instead, because it appears as if the restricted power could have an advantage of V8 power in the long run.
Once the new V8 rules were passed, the top teams then lost their option to run with a restricted V10 while Minardi was given a special exemption, however the situation they now fins themselves in was not anticipated and even the FIA are not sure just what the difference will be…
“Until we see cars in full race trim over the winter, we won’t be able to get a true idea of their speed, so we won’t know exactly what the restrictor dimensions should be,” a spokesperson for the FIA was quoted as saying in to Autosport.
At the present time the 2005 V10 2005 has an air intake restrictor with a section of 77mm. The engines can reach maximum revs of 16.800 rpm – in comparison to more than 20.000 for the V8 - but develop nevertheless 80cv more than the 8 cylinders engines.
The fears of certain manufacturers – such as Toyota, who equips MidlandF1 with engines, is that they will have to make extreme counter measures to fight the likes of the new Red Bull team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, who have opted to take the initiative and to the FIA to the test by using restricted V10 engines.
However, the FIA have tried to calm the issue, reassuring the manufacturers that they will fix the situation if they have to….
“We’ve made it very clear that we’ll change the restrictor plates as late as Friday practice in Bahrain if we have to.”
Let us hope that F1 will avoid the ridiculous situation where Toro Rosso, the only team to be using the V10 in 2006 - would be subjected to a rule change on the Friday night of the season opener because they were found to be too competitive!
