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Todt: "F1 and WEC should have similar engines"

Published on 06 Dec 2017 14:14
11
By: Rob Veenstra

Jean Todt says he hopes F1's new engines for 2021 might be adapted for use at Le Mans. Plans for a 'world engine' were scrapped when the current F1 rules were introduced in 2014. But FIA president Todt says the 2021 rules are now an opportunity to try again.

"At the moment we have separate engine regulations for every series," he told Auto Motor und Sport. "It doesn't have to be like that. The requirements for formula one and the world endurance championship are similar," Todt added.

"A formula one engine has to do about 5,000 kilometres, which is about the Le Mans distance. Having one engine concept would be attractive to new manufacturers, and it could mean F1 teams can go to Le Mans with their own team, or vice versa," he said.

Hombibi

Posts: 137

I get the reasoning, but I am not sure JT is correct: The engines may be similar or not, it is still a completely different concept. In other words: why don't these endurance teams participate in F1? Because it is a complete different class/race/cost. Interchanging the engines won't change that, ... [Read more]

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Dec 6 2017 - 14:38

F1 News

Replies (11)

Hombibi

Posts: 137
I get the reasoning, but I am not sure JT is correct: The engines may be similar or not, it is still a completely different concept. In other words: why don't these endurance teams participate in F1? Because it is a complete different class/race/cost. Interchanging the engines won't change that, unless you merge the two competitions completely. That could be interesting but that is not what JT talks about.

Once again I think that the FIA is on the wrong path: It is not about making F1, or the whole of motorsport "one design". Sure, that will create a nice competition but in that case there is no point for car manufacturers and constructors any longer.

If F1 wants to be the pinnacle of motorsport I think the FIA needs to give the constructors as much space as possible to develop new and better cars.

If F1 is to be the pinnacle of motorsport than let it be a competition of technology and innovation as well as a sportive competition, and manage on track competition with an intelligent handicap system.
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- Dec 6 2017 - 14:38
f1dave

Posts: 782
Todt has finally lost it! Would the same engine be used in ALL FIA series or just these two? How about in Rally cars and karts? And by the way no recent F1 engine has done five thousand miles without some kind of failure either mechanical, electrical or hydraulic.
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- Dec 6 2017 - 17:51
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Wow, has Todt awaken from some kind of long sleep or something? He is pretty talkative as of late. I sorta like the concept... Sorta... But Im not sure how good it will be in practice.
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- Dec 6 2017 - 17:51
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  I partially agree with JT. There is value in some overlap between WEC and F1. If the technology is similar, WEC could leverage what's in F1. That being said, FIA would be wise not to dilute the prestige of the F1 brand. WEC is great, but it's not F1. Not even close.
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  Dec 7 2017 - 19:27
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Thats sort of my concern aswell. That, and the fact that the two series are very different in nature, even if the longevity of F1 engines has indeed been increased.
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  Dec 7 2017 - 23:13
FatMike

Posts: 153
For the love of G.... motorsport someone gag that man. Before u know it he'll want series where a cart, an F1 car and a local farmers fucking wheelbarrow should be able to compete
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- Dec 6 2017 - 18:38
RogerF1

Posts: 501
But would it kill the unique variety of PU innovation seen, at least up until now, in WEC. Exit the OEM’s though and might be a bit of a famine.
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- Dec 6 2017 - 21:33
kngrthr

Posts: 203
as in any sport if you are not winning....get better.
if you can't get better, leave or accept your level.
we can't have the sporting body fiddling the rules to make it even.

i just about give up with F1. it's no longer being televised in Australia anyway .

anyone know a way to watch it other than those crappy 40min (+20 mins of adds) highlight packages?
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- Dec 7 2017 - 01:47
- mbmwe36
  
  Posts: 533
  I'm not saying you can use torrent services, but yeah, torrents.
  As far as I know there isn't an official way to watch it online.
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  Dec 7 2017 - 09:28
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Live stream it?
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  Dec 7 2017 - 11:03
Barron

Posts: 625
Not keen on the idea IF it’s a mandatory rule package. It’s ok if an F1 engine ‘happens’ to fit a WEC, after all the DFV was very successful crossing over. What we need is MORE diversity, not less. The FIA is taking us down a road that will see special WEC bodies dropped onto an F1 car for Le Mans. Now that might make perfect sense for a privateer or F1 team if they WANTED to do such a crazy thing, but FIA are one step away from spec one-design top tier motor racing and that is a big NO from me.. JT must be stopped.
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- Dec 7 2017 - 10:04