Renault unveils its 2014 V6 Formula 1 engine

[five&dime]

Really? I guess that's why no one ever dies in motorsports....

And btw, I am obviously one of those people who prefers more power. I am building a 600hp station wagon. But in racing, less can be more. And as technology evolves, so will the cars. F1 seems to be much more about technology and aerodynamics than just about raw hp. And regulations are just that. In this day and age, we won't soon be seeing less regulations on anything. And what makes you think that the worst driver could safely push a modern F1 car to it's limit?? That's nonsense. All F1 drivers are extremely talented. They can't all the be the best. Just like sports in general.

I would also disagree with your comment about going green in racing is pointless. Race cars are often the first place where new technology is tested for future production cars. If they could solve the battery issues, an electric racecar could destroy a petrol car b/c the torque is instantaneous. And again, I am a petrol head and would never personally own an electric car b/c I like the feel and sound of a gasoline engine. But I would never say green in general or in racing is pointless.

Edited June 25, 2013 by five&dime

[Zedyone_kenobi]

well I respect where you are coming from. But it will be 10+ years before we see a real electric car race of any substance.

Here is my biggest gripe beyond the crappy range and really bad batteries all EV have right now. Half of the motoring experience whether driving or watching it is the sound. Just as removing manuals detaches the driver from the driving experience, so does removing the sound and FEEL of an internal combustion engine. Let them have ECO races with EV and cars that can change out those heavy batteries. But to not pollute pure motorsports where the blessing that is fossil fuel is used.

75 years from now if oil and fossil fuel get too expensive to produce maybe I would be willing to entertain the idea of an EV series. But not right now. Why pollute F1 with this nonsense.

I miss the sound of the glorious V10 engine. BUt it is gone. THE V8's sound decent, but nowhere like the V10's. THE V6's will sound different, and I am praying they have an aural quality that sucks people into the sport.

I agree F1 is about aero, tech, etc. But fuel economy is just a waste of time. Do you really want F1 to start to emphasize Fuel economy. By saying you want to go green in racing you are essentially drawing a line in the sand saying okay, this about fast as we want to go, now lets see how efficient you can be while going that fast. A glass ceiling has been established. Naturally some engineers will find some speed somewhere, but stand by my statement that I want to give them all the aero and power they can muster.

IF you want to go green, make the semis that truck the cars around thousands of miles electric. THat would actually make a difference, rather than the pseudo marketing gimmick about making F1 (or NASCAR, or WRC, or any series) appear to be more green.

The whole CO2 contributing to global warming myth has been busted for years anyway.

End rant.

Going to drink a beer... this gets me all riled up.

[John Coffey]

IF the drivers can push the car let them. If they reach their physical limits then they will stop pushing. A driver will not drive to his death. He will back off. A better driver can push harder than a less skilled driver. I miss the days where a great driver with a great car can lap the field under green if he was so talented.

Have you done any wheel to wheel road racing? I suspect not. Those that have raced and want to win know what you posted above is ignorance. Racing is about exploring the limits of man and machine against a group of like minded others in the same place at the same time. To do that its necessary to go beyond your limits and the limits of the machine while those around you are doing the exact same thing. Watch Senna to get a vague idea of how far one man will go to win road racing.

Given that, its very important to have limits to protect, at a minimum, spectators, crew, track officials, etc. Its also, just as import, to have limits to protect the drivers from themselves.

Regulating the car so that it is safe enough for the worst driver to push as hard as he wants takes an aspect of danger from the sport.

This shows a lack of understanding of the regulations, the drivers, and the risk. Get out of your Lazy Boy, get a comp license, and get on the track.

Edited June 26, 2013 by John Coffey

[John Coffey]

A timely article:

http://jalopnik.com/why-drivers-still-die-in-racing-crashes-563200728

[LeonV]

I've decided not to even post any counter-arguments for the tripe that Zedyone has been spewing.

Good stuff John and Brandon, you're saying what I'm thinking...