Is Ferrari planning to get back into sports car racing?

What do you mean with "no news"? Jean Todt has said that an F1 V8 is in the dyno right now.

Ciao, Peter

 

If they do it will be in the name of Maserati..........

Ferrari = F1
Alfa = touring cars
Lancia = rallying
Maserati = sportscars

not unlike Ford/Jaguar/Aston Martin..........


Paul M

 

Just a thought: would Ferrari consider to do the 2006 season with a restricted V10 (like Minardi will)? Would such a gamble pay off (maybe the competitor's new v8s will blow up and the trusted V10 will earn them enough points and in the mean time they get an extra development year for their V8). Or is this a stupid idea?

Ciao, Peter

 

No f'ing way ! There'd be a jewish pope before Ferrari would start next year with a V10

 

No way.

The V8 will blow the restricted V10 away. From the first race. The only reason for the V10 is to give the Minardis a hand.

 

I wonder is champcar is rethinking their whole V10 idea. I figured the reason behind it was to attract F1 constructors. I'll bet thier engine formula will change soon too. A ferrari powered Lola champcar, now that would be something.....

 

Sure the Minardis are not VERY good, but they're doing a little better this year. It surely is there for them but I think this year Jordan is the one who blows the loudest. The only TV coverage they get is when they slide off the track and so for half of the race we're watching those Brits paint the walls yellow. How long are they even going to keep racing, no one seems too eager to own such a lame team.

 

The cars are horrible to watch and probably a lot worse to drive. I think what we're seeing is the ultimate decline caused by a Russian businessman who lost all interest.

 

I believe that Ferrari has committed itself to Formula One with the FIA till 2009.

 

The idea of running a restricted V10 is certainly worth a thought. It is very possible that a restricted V10 will be able to perform better than an underdeveloped V8 .

A race spec V8 will take a long time to develop and perfect. A restriceted V10 will have the reliability. Already we have seen that the V8s being tested on the track have suffered reliability issues after a handful of laps.

This rule is meant for Minardi and Paul Stoddart because Minardi area SPECIAL case and we must all treat Minardi as SPECIAL team. So what if there car are not even at 90% of the performance of an average qualifying time? So what if they sell there race seats to garbage racers with big sponsors?

Haven't you heard... in the Olympics when an athelete does not have the right equipment because they come from a poor nation, they are given an easier target to win. (sarcasm) There are now SPECIAL clauses in FIFA and for the Soccer world cup... because the teams from Africa come from poor countries they are going to get 2 goals everytime they score 1 goal. (sarcasm)

Coming back to the thread...

Ferrari are currently developing the new V8 and are commited to F1 till the end of 2012.

 

The rule was probably added with Minardi in mind, however it is an option open to everybody. If the Ferrari V8 isn't ready on time, the scuderia could continue using the V10. So nobody gets special treatment or an unfair advantage. I'm quite certain running a restricted V10 will not be a competitive approach.

 

Even though the rule is same for everyone, the top 8 or 9 teams will invest time and man power in developing a V8 where as 1 or 2 teams will just use a restricted V10 to take part in F1 for sake of taking part rather than competiting.

The 10% rule should be brought back so that track safety is maintained. It is like having 2 moving chicanes on the track. You never know when they will show up infront of you or what their pay drivers will do. Everytime the rules are formulated, everyone has to keep in mind the SPECIAL team because God forbid they can actually perform at the same level.

 

As mentioned before by others, bottom feeder teams fulfill a vital function in F1 by offering seats to new drivers. Besides, 20 cars is barely enough.

You mean the 107% rule? I'd like to see that back too, but only once we have a real field again of 24 cars.

 

It sure would be great if they did. The new FXX makes you wonder what (if anything) might be in the mill. Look at the parameters to attempt to get one - besides the fact the it's a bit expensive - look at the fact it's not a "street" car; the fact Ferrari works with you and the car; the fact that driving experience is beneficial - that sorta gives us the feeling that something might be lurking out there. Look at what they have - talented folks testing for them, testing a car that is pretty much like one already running (but not for points), a driver pool to choose from. Maybe we are just wishing too hard for a come back from ages ago and reading more into the FXX that what it really represents!

Carol

 

I might be totally wrong on this, but the sarcastic side in me sees nothing but a financial benefit for Ferrari in the whole FXX "program". It sounds like stroking the egos of the "test drivers". Yeah right, like Ferrari with its experience and all its professional drivers would need Joe Blow's input.

I also read that the real purpose of the FXX is to see where the limits of Joe Blow are with a 900 (?) hp car and that is where the test data actually tells the factory something valuable.

But no mention or thought of taking this onto the real race track.

 

Interesting idea... "Can we put Joe Blow into this car and stuff electronics into it to make him feel lke he's drving at a competetive level, safely? If yes, we build the F70 (Enzo Replacement Streetcar) with even more horsepower than the Enzo."

 

That is precisely the approach.

 

Good, now let's hope the chosen few can handle it, so we (the collective tifosi) get our enzo replacement with 800 Horseys.

 

The V8s will not be "under-developed, the 10s will. The V8s are basically a 10 with 2 cylinder lopped off. The teams with good 10s will take what they know, make an 8 and put all development efforts into improvements.

The teams who choose to stick with a 10 will be running an engine that is heavy and at least 1 year behind in development.

The 8s will dominate.

 

I was thinking F60 for the 60th anniversary in 2007.
This new supercar will have to come with a transmission that changes gears faster. BMW M3 SMG (80 milliseconds) compared to the Enzo (150 milliseconds and 90 milliseconds in sport mode)

 

The Enzo replacement won't be here THAT soon... will it? (I really don't know.)

 

Ferrari would do themselves well to compete in ALMS/LMES and Le Mans but not very likely given their budget and commitments in F-1.

As for Champ Cars, they are sensing an opportunity and I saw an article within the past couple of days (perhaps on Crash.net) about how when F-1 changes to the V8 formula, Champ Cars will then be the fastest racing cars in the world as their rules are not set to change until 2008.

BHW