Europe: Old Honda engines for BAR

By Phil Huff
May 26 2005

BAR Honda will have to use five week old engines on their return to racing at the European Grand Prix after the FIA issued a clarification on the two-race engine rule.

There was speculation that, as BAR had been excluded from the San Marino event, the team would be able to run new engines at the Nurburgring - as they did not officially compete at Imola, they therefore didn't use the engines.

"We were going to ask the FIA if we could run a new engine without a penalty," explained Otmar Szafnauer to Autosport, "but prior to us asking the FIA clarified that they would not allow that, which is fine. We just wanted a clarification on the rules."

The team are worried about the prospects of using such an old engine. "The engine has been sitting for five weeks now," explains Otmar, Honda Racing's Vice President. "Metals corrode, seals deteriorate, and our concerns are that we don't really understand what happens in those five weeks. The engines are sealed now so you cannot take them apart after four weeks and say, oh, this is corroding more than we expected. When they are all sealed up you don't really know what is happening on the inside.

"It's a risk, but there is nothing we can really do about it. We have to run it."

BAR Honda could, of course, elect to take a 10 place penalty on the grid and run fresh engines. "I think at this point we will run it," Szafnauer said. "Hopefully we will finish the race and finish in a good position. If something happens in qualifying that might change.

"Qualifying is different and knowing that then saying we will take new engines and go 10 places back doesn't really make sense. Hopefully we can get a good qualifying and race to set ourselves up for Canada."

How does it feel to be racing in F1 once more? "It's great to be back!"