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F1 Greenwash

The Formula 1 teams and FIA announced some very interesting changes to the engine rules, starting in 2013, that will help make Formula 1 more "green".

This of course ignores the fact that the cars going round the track actually only forms a teensy part of the resources eaten up by R&D, and the logistics of transporting the show around the world each season, along with all the associated personnel. Still, let us (as they are) conveniently ignore this fact for now, by simply inserting fingers in our ears and going "LA LA LA LA LA LA".

The theory is that greener F1 cars will allow the technology developed for racing to be transferred to road cars, thus causing the sea levels to fall, polar bears to look less forlorn, and whole forests to miraculously re-grow. Oh, and sponsors who might otherwise avoid F1 to put their money in. Am I being cynical? Meh.

F1 cars currently run 2.4 litre V8 engines, running at 16,000rpm. From '13 they will be replaced by 1.6 litre 4 cylinder engines with turbos, running at a top whack of 10,000rpm (which, if you did that in your road car, would probably cause various bits to appear through your bonnet at high speed).

Energy recovery systems will be increased, and fuel restrictions will aim to make the cars up to 50% more fuel efficient.

Great. That's the environment fixed - next, World Peace.

Reluctantly, I agree that it IS actually a good idea - hopefully filtering relevant green technology through to road cars, whilst making the whole concept of smaller, more fuel-efficient cars appealing to us, the great-unwashed car-driving masses.

Damn though - 10,000rpm engines will sound crap compared to the current 16,000rmp scream. Ah well. At least they're not proposing F1 goes electric.

They're not, are they....?

(This remarkably chilly afternoon, I'm listening to Pink Floyd's "Is There Anybody Out There - The Wall Live" and contemplating what a complete tit Dave Gilmour's son is.)

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