Luca: V10's have the advantage

By Nick Sparkes
December 30 2005

Toyota's Luca Marmorini has added his weight to the V10/V8 saga after Midland who will be using Toyota V8's next season conducted a study into the differences between the current V8's and last seasons V10's. Their findings were that teams like STR will enjoy an extra 50-100bhp next season.

Luca Marmorini whose Panasonic Toyota Racing team has been working hard on its V8 engine since the second part of this year, is aware of the 'power advantage' of the V10 engine.

"On the basis of the experimentations carried out so far, it's estimated that with the FIA-imposed limitation to V10 engines - that is a 77mm air intake and revs limited to 16,700rpm - these engines can reach a power output of around 800 horsepower," Marmorini told Autosport, after Toyota's customer team reported that V10s had a distinct advantage in a recent back-to-back test."

"Honestly, I don't think any of the current V8 engines can reach levels similar to these."

Luca was joined by Honda Racing president Yasuhiro Wada who is also concerned by the pace of the V10 engine. It has been no secret that many of the manufactures have been keeping an eye out on the teams that run V10 engines, and to how far their advantage goes.

The FIA has stepped in by saying they will amend the restrictions at any time it sees fit. But if there is a clear advantage, and without disadvantaging the V10's to such an amout it becomes unfair to them, how will the teams and the FIA reach a solution without tears?