Why are motorsport organizations so obsessed with downsizing?

[zedextreme8177]

First F1 and now Le Mans, made worse by those cylinder caps.

Oh well, I'll have to watch these and imagine it's today

 

[Ardius]

To force greener and cheaper solutions. V12 petrol guzzlers are not particularly cheap and green. Motorsports has to accept the changing environment of the world, natural resources are not going to last forever and they have to be seen to be doing something or otherwise face pressure from groups like Greenpeace, etc.
"Green" solutions are a current watch word in the corporate world, so if motorsports still want to interest manufacturers, they have to provide this. Not to mention sponsors, they don't want to scare sponsors away with the potential negative image of being a polluting, resource-wasting sport.

We've already lost several race tracks around the world due to noise complaints, lets not lose the sport altogether by ignoring the situation we are in.

 

[Clark]

Just do what I do, aswell as going to see the modern day stuff, go and see Historic racing! I can't wait to go to the Silverstone Classic this year.

 

[zedextreme8177]

Yeah, it's bad we are in this situation. If only...

Glad we have YT videos to watch all the time, and the classics to see them in action

 

[Mr. S]

I'm in love with it. I'll marry the car. Literally.

 

[zedextreme8177]

Near instant-greening would be achieved by forcing all the cars to run Diesel engines, using Veggie oil Apparently reduces greenhouse emissions by 90%


One more vid of the Aston

 

[sumbrownkid]

Well the way the world's thinking is now with the green movement, and eco-friendly fuels and what not, it's only a matter of time that racing has its hand in it.

Remember they are also doing this for money too. More people = more money of course. Green racing is the new thing, and most people happen to like new things. Formula one got stale with V10s. So they went to V8s. People were mad, but guess what, the V8 machines were faster around corners! So downsizing doesn't mean = less exciting.

I for one, am sad that the old generation of machines to grace La Sarthe are now gone, but I am still excited to see what green tech can give us. If Audi and Peugeot and to a lesser extent Aston Martin can manage to hit 200+ mph and have lap times similar to the previous generation, then maybe green racing isn't too bad after all.

 

[Clark]

Formula one got stale with V10s. So they went to V8s.

Well they didn't go stale, they were the most thing awesome thing about F1 in the last decade and a half. They went to V8's because the V10's were hugely expensive and propelled the cars to speeds the FIA didn't really like.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Well they didn't go stale, they were the most thing awesome thing about F1 in the last decade and a half. They went to V8's because the V10's were hugely expensive and propelled the cars to speeds the FIA didn't really like.

They were awesome, but it did get boring after a while (I fault aero development for that).

V8s are no slouches though. But I don't get how deleting 2 pistons makes the costs go down that much.

 

[zedextreme8177]

Most of the F1 lap records stand from 2004. The 2005 cars could have been much quicker, unless the single tyre rule was brought in.

F1 needs less Aero to go with, let's say GP2 spec or fan cars with no wings Also switch to steel brakes to increase braking distances.

What I don't understand is the maximum cylinder limit. We could have GT cars sounding like this:


or this:


At this rate, we'll have cars with these engines in 2040


You can clearly see the love I have for V12s

 

[Clark]

Also switch to steel brakes to increase braking distances.

There is minimal difference in braking distance between steel and carbon ceramic brakes.

 

[mykem]

They were awesome, but it did get boring after a while (I fault aero development for that).

V8s are no slouches though. But I don't get how deleting 2 pistons makes the costs go down that much.

I don't know about engines but as far I know the more cylinder there is, the more moving part which not only mean added cost in production but also reliability issues. It's the reason why Porsche with its straight six engine is one of the most reliable enduro race cars ever made. And engines on a race cars especially F1 and Le Mans have to be made with exactness ie. close tolerance with minute to no deviation. Although it's not cost prohibitive now as it used to be, the cost to produce such parts is still high.

 

[Stevisiov]

There is minimal difference in braking distance between steel and carbon ceramic brakes.

^Indeed. Ceramic brakes offer an almost negligable increase in braking power, where ceramic brakes come into their own, is dealing with brake fade.