VW to enter F1 engine market?

Duke

Duke

Duke

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Not for some time yet, but another engine manufacturer could help mix things up.

Volkswagen is seriously evaluating a move into Formula 1 as an engine supplier from 2012, when new power unit regulations due to be introduced could make the sport attractive enough for the German car maker to get involved.

The German car manufacturer's representative Hans-Joachim Stuck says his company would not be interested in becoming a partner with a team - as was rumoured several years ago when it was linked with a deal to buy into Red Bull Racing - but would be up for supplying engines.

However, Stuck has made it clear that the possibility to supply power units to a number of outfits, especially if there was a 'world engine', would be enough to attract Volkswagen into F1.

"If you're the world's largest manufacturer is natural that we're thinking about [Formula 1], but not before 2012," Stuck told AUTOSPORT about Volkswagen's F1 ambitions.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80348
 
So if VW came into the sport, which of their many nameplates would they stick on the engine?

Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti have racing pedigree, Lambo being the one most recently in Grand Prix racing.
 
Firestar_3x said:
For some reason i hope they go with Bentley then Bugatti.
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I think if they were coming in as chassis and engine manufacturers, then either of those names would be good. But not if they're only supplying engines.

frakker said:
Surely they would just stick with the VW moniker?
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I don't think I could take the VW roundel being plastered on the side of a Formula One car seriously.
 
Seeing as by the time the statement may come true (2012) Porsche will be fully part of VW (as if they werent before lol) , it would be cool to see them in F1 (again)
 
No possible reason for porsche to enter tbh. They don't have trouble selling the cars they make so why bother. Unless they sort the budgets out and try to make it a more even playing field theres no real reason for porsche to enter or even the VW badge.

I have F1 racing mags back to 96 that say the exact same rumours regards VW.
 
I'd imagine VW would only get involved if the engine development had more real world benefit for them - much like their Le Mans programs helped develop the TFSI direct-injection system and the common rail/piezoelectric injection diesel engines.

So v8's revving to 18,000rpm are unlikely, but if the regulations reallow turbocharging then they certainly have the foundations to build a competitive engine that could benefit their core business - even more so if more the regulations surrounding KERS were rethought.
 
Formula 1 as an engine supplier from 2012, when new power unit regulations due to be introduced
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What regulations are these and still confused ho new suppliers can enter with the ban on development, aren't hey going to have massive advantages.
 
AcidHell2 said:
What regulations are these and still confused ho new suppliers can enter with the ban on development, aren't hey going to have massive advantages.
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Have they confirmed the spec for 2012 onwards?

I think its just the current freeze will be lifted at the end of 2011, so there will then be a new standard format for 2012 onwards (hopefully no real change to the 2.4 V8 format) so if you were going to be a new entrant, you would want to from that point on.

What the regulations are we shall have to see, but I would expect maybe a season of development before another 3 or 4 year freeze. The format has worked quite well in terms of stopping massive development costs.
 
But cosworth is new this ear, so how have they done it with the ban?

Hopefully they will scrap v8 and engine size and limit the fuel. But I can't see that happening.
 
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