FIA Seeks Development That Will Benefit Car Manufacturers

Mosley (l) Hopes To Make Research In F1 More Beneficial To Car Manufacturers

FIA is seeking a "way not only to reduce costs and improve the show for spectators ... but to offer car manufacturers something for their money apart from a shot at victory," according to Brad Spurgeon of the N.Y. TIMES. Ferrari and Renault have combined for the last eight F1 titles, and F1 Honda team CEO Nick Fry said, "The amounts of money that the car companies are paying to compete in F1 are rewarded hopefully by victories, but that's not sufficient. It's got to incorporate technology or intellectual-property development or people development that can be fed back into the parent company." FIA President Max Mosley: "We want to make sure the research work done in F1 is not just cost-effective but also road-relevant." Racing fuel this season must contain 5.7% biofuel, which is made from organic matter. Another new rule "eliminates a previously obligatory 10-minute period during qualifying when the cars did nothing but burn off fuel." Also next season, a device "designed to save the car's kinetic energy during deceleration and then to use it in short power bursts -- thus saving fuel -- will be instituted." FIA Technical Consultant Tony Purnell: "If we can achieve the objectives that challenge the automotive industry, with [F1] spearheading those changes, I think we would have achieved something really worthwhile" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/16).