2013 Engine regs agreed: 1.6L turbo 4 cylinder

+1 Absolutely, they don't change the rules of other sports every other year because thats tradition of the sport. Not so in Formula 1.

 

In F1 the tradition is to screw up the rules every few years.

 

Absolutely. I remember the folks on here whine about the change from the V10 to the V8 complaining that they sound so whimpy. Yeah right. Major BS.

And while there was no FChat when the V12s died, most folks didn't have much of a problem with their departure, particularly since mostly only Ferrari used them and they were quite outdated (they were a disaster in the T5 and still not so great in the 641/2/3).

Anything that has to produce the 700+ hp of a F1 will be one hell of a screamer!

Totally disagree:
- First off I couldn't care less what teams spend and whether the spending kills some teams or not. It is F1. Play or get out of the way.
- Also btw don't give a darn about any eco/green technologies. If they need that as an excuse to bring in turbos, fine with me. (not that you mentioned that, just saying)
- Chang is good, particularly in F1. Everytime they toss out the rule book, somebody somewhere finds a magic bullet/loophole and builds the next WDC upon it. And IMHO that is cool. Whether it is the first Renault turbo powering Jabouille and Arnoux to victory (no WDC), the first car with skirts (hello Andretti!) or the most efficient double diffuser powering Button to WDC. Some team will profit more than others from this rule change and run away with a WDC and that's cool, particularly if it is somebody new. Nothing is more boring than watch the same team/same driver win F1. Whether that somebody is Senna/Prost/Schumacher or Alonso.

 

Yup thats a good post, fine with me...

However green issues are here to stay, and are a issue Todt is keen on, I think.

Flying the F1 circus around I would imagine is the biggest polluter, not that I have any answers..

 

Thanks.

True dat. I'm not much of a green guy, but if it helps keep the sport alive and the manufacturers sell some cars, then I'm all for it. Just don't ever switch to Diesel engines. Lets leave the industrial washing machines to Le Mans "racing".

And that kind of argument is as old as it is true. For any sport for that matter: No matter how green the competitors are, the fans and press going to the event create a massive carbon foot print. There is no such thing as a "green soccer match", "green downhill ski" or "green motorsports" event. Nor is there a "green Woodstock" or "green bean planters convention". If you want to be green, stay home. And don't turn on anything electric or fossil fueled. Now give me back that friggen blanket!

 

I must have worded my post poorly.
I think that spending limits are anathema to the spirit of F1. If they must be applied they should be done in an intellectually consistent manner. Its bad enough to limit technology in the name of economy but what we have here are the tech limits with no savings just additional expense.

 

The V8s were a huge step down from the V10s sound wise... so you're damn right I'm complaining. These motors will be a huge step down from the V8s.

They could have kept the V10s and rev restricted them like Toro Rossos in 06, saved the teams hundreds of millions and still slowed the cars down....

 

Thing is, these engines weren't RPM restricted. 10K RPM is almost certainly going to sound gay . And they're going to be fuel/air restricted as well, so no 1500hp.

 

Why does 10k have to sound gay? Plenty road cars manage to sound awesome at a lot less rpm than that... Give this a chance - whilst the F1 and the FIA might look lunch a bunch of muppets from time to time, the one thing they are not going to do is spoil the 'show'. As the F1 sound is such an integral part of the show, they would have to have taken muppetry to previously unseen levels to have not thought this through.

 

I have yet to hear a 4-cylinder (other than a Subaru) that I think sounds anywhere nearly as good or even in the same league as an engine of the 6, 8, 10, or 12 cylinder variety. However, I'm begrudgingly giving it a chance. I don't know that it will spoil the show, but I do think it will take away partly from the show. I remember the first time I heard a 10 cylinder F1 car at WOT, I literally stood there in awe for at least 10 minutes. It was surely a sight/sound to behold, unlike anything I had ever heard before.

 

Make sure you see a race before the end of 2012; Indy Car as well. You have to hear a normally aspirated open wheel car during a race to appreciate it. YouTube/tv is no comparison. The end of 2012 will be a sad day for motorsport; 4 cylinder turbos are here to stay.
Their lack of sound is not appealing in anyway. V10 to v8 was nothing compared to the difference starting in 2013. I've heard 4 phases in f1 in person, the 70's, 80's, 90's and today. To this day the 93/94/95 Ferrari was still the loudest F1 car vie ever heard. Just incredible.
Kevin

 

Scubby's sound like boat motors lol!

 

10K RPMs is 166.66 cycles per second
in a V8 this is 666.66 gulping and blowing events per second (E5) An octave above middle C
in an I4 this is 333.33 gulping and blowing events per second (E4) Just above middle C

A V8 at 18K RPMs has 1200 gulping and blowing events per second (D#6) Two octaves above Middle C
A I4 at 10K RPMs has 333 gulping and blowing events per second (E4) Just above Middle C.

Sound comes from the gulping and blowing events. The timbre comes from the pipes and rsonators.

You do the math.

 

So don't it watch then, nuff said! If your hearing will not be appeased and you base your F1 on how the engines sound maybe look for another form of motorsports to whine about. Frankly the whole 'sound' argument is lame and ricer imho.

 

As an alternative I have had the pleasure of watching FIA GT1 on Speed this week (in the mornings), Abu Dhabi, Silverstone and a track in France. The racing is kickass aggressive stuff, very entertaining watching Murcielagos, Ford GTs, Aston DB9s, Maserati MC12s and the ubiquitous Corvettes duking it out on every lap like it's the last of the season.

I really hope Speed shows more of this on a regular basis. It is much more exciting than F1.
They have also been showing GT2 on occasion as well.

Hats of the Lamborghini team for their efforts with the Murcielagos. They are every bit as competitive as the other cars out there and run up front with the best of them.

 

Oh my. To each his own I suppose.

 

Oh please..............................leave the snobbery at the door.
You can tout F1 as the pinnacle of automotive racing and I don't knock YOU for your preference. I expect the the same consideration in return.

Personally I think F1 is too regulated and artificial in comparison, oh, and BORING

 

strange how nobody seems to mention configuration,or number of turbos. it would be interesting to see boxer TT 4s vs inlines vs V configuration TTso out there.

 

I'd hate to be an ear plug salesman in 2013.....

 

You should hear the 1967 Honda V12 3L F1!

When it was brought at Goodwood Festival of Speed a few years back, the noise was just unbelievable. Every time the mechanics started the Honda engine to warm it up, the public in the paddock cleared in no time! It took 3 to 5 minutes to bring the engine to operational temperature whilst the mechanic was dabbing the throttle constantly. The cacophony covered the public address system, bringing the preceedings on the track to be suspended.

The decibel level was just at the threshold of physical pain; the mechanics were taking turn to start the engine and sported sophisticated ear protectors.

 

Wow! Got chills just reading that....
Thanks.
Kevin

 

Right, because we all have to agree with the FIA dumbing down the sport year after year like you to be true "fans."

 

Well sir I would say a "true fan" is one who does not constantly complain about things we cannot change, we accept them for what they are and continue our dedication to the sport.

 

I think fans should voice their criticisms. F1 could learn a lot from other racing like NASCAR in terms of fan involvement...

 

The only problem with that is Bernie nor the FIA listen to the fans request or concerns. I myself just look forward to the races, yell at the TV occasionaly and then go on with my life.