F1′s engine makers are banding together against the FIA’s plans to introduce a radically new engine formula in 2013.

It was previously believed the bulk of the teams backed the plans for turbocharged 1.6 litre 4-cylinder engines, in accordance with a ‘greener’ image.

But the sport’s engine makers Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Cosworth have now come to the conclusion that Jean Todt’s plans will cost EUR100 million to develop, and are lobbying to be able to base the new formula on the existing V8 engines.

Cosworth has reportedly warned that it can develop 4-cylinder engines for EUR20 million but that the costs must be passed on to its small customer teams.

So the engine maker group wants the plans to be delayed until 2015, according to a report in Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

They believe the FIA’s ambitions can be achieved with the current engines, such as by restricting fuel flow and developing the KERS regulations further.

They met after the Singapore race and agreed that efforts should be made to retain the basic V8 layout beyond 2012.

But also despite some F1 purists’ fears about the benign sound the smaller engines will make, FIA president Todt is reportedly adamant the new formula one will be imposed on time.

One marque happy with the FIA’s plans, including the possibility of the new engines being deployed outside of F1, is Porsche.

The German sports car maker’s research and development chief Wolfgang Durheimer said its interest in entering F1 is “based on the ‘world engine’”.

“Of course, the rules have to be right,” he added.

Even if only for a few minutes, the time to walk the last 3 laps at Twin Ring Motegi, MotoGP is back to living a good show, with so many aspects to make the race more interesting than usual although there has been little (or anything) to win. Casey Stoner, on the track where he won his first world title, rose again on the top step of the podium after Alcaniz, author of a perfect race just where he relegated to second place Andrea Dovizioso. The escape last part of the race allowed him to stay away from any “tussle” with the driver who will replace next year, HRC, the exact opposite of the duel that saw both players bishops Fiat Yamaha.

Between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo an intense duel where you are left out of the walls inside a box, data telemetry, new engines and old, recent or past injuries. Found themselves against each other and were not spared, with the right competitive nastiness that has forced everyone to live in the Valley the last two laps at Motegi. Rossi, by his own admission without injured shoulder problems, it seemed “to a time” (quotation marks), responding tit for tat attack each sample of the now top of the 2010 class. For its part, Lorenzo, who could easily make do with the 13 points that allow between 7 days to win in Sepang ahead of the world, was not spared, risking the impossible to pass a condition in Valentino.

The result was a tremendous duel with 6 passes and controsorpassi and Valentino Rossi to have, cunning, the better, passing the entrance of Turn 8 on the last lap leaving no room for reply. Back on the podium as the champion of the world, Jorge Lorenzo will be content to earn 6 points out of Pedrosa in Sepang (if there is …) to become mathematically World Champion. Casey Stoner dutifully celebrated the 22nd career win, the 2nd row with the only Ducati in the top 10 (the others are in the last 4 positions …), beating Andrea Dovizioso who loses their points against Australia for the third league position. The Forli, author of the pole position, it can still be pleased with the weekend where he held high the colors of the HRC on his home circuit after the KO of Pedrosa.

Out of the fight for the podium concluded Colin Edwards, 5 the best result of the season ahead of Marco Simoncelli, “down” at the end, with Suzuki’s Ben Spies Alvaro Bautista seventh and eighth comeback after being found at the penultimate lap for a ‘excursion into the escape routes. Marco Melandri is instead 12 °, Loris Capirossi out of action for a problem to his right in the end when the Suzuki MotoGP has found at last the show. And maybe even Valentino Rossi.

Chronicle of Race

There Pedrosa, but it’s a Honda to have the best starting point, the # 4 Andrea Dovizioso but was immediately marched to the curve 2 by passing behind Stoner with Lorenzo Rossi for third place. So Stoner, Dovizioso, Lorenzo, Rossi, Edwards, Capirossi, Simoncelli and Spies in the first 8 positions at the end of lap one, not fall, all 16 drivers in the regular way in the race. On the second lap at the “tunnel” in the vicinity of the curve 5 Spies and Hayden come off the track share respectively in second and last place, trailing by 3 “and 7″ seconds from Mika Kallio 14 °.

Marco Simoncelli takes the fifth position by passing the “dean” of motorcycling Edwards and Capirossi, but Yamaha is already quite far of the official scrimmage of Lorenzo and Rossi under the watchful eye of Masao Furusawa, # 1 in the Three Diapason Motorsport pit . The attack comes and the fifth lap overtaking under braking for turn 9 where it can fit Lorenzo Rossi, already gaining valuable yards ahead of “almost” World Champion 2010: The demonstration comes from the fastest lap in 1’47 “395, are 2 “by 3 recovered from race leader Stoner.

Going Ben Spies is in eleventh place in comeback, passing four riders in the space of two turns with great regret off the track at the start. Randy De Puniet same misfortune in the 10th round in their attempt to cope with the Tech 3 Yamaha rider. If the first 4 positions appear to be stabilized by Stoner, Dovizioso, Lorenzo and Rossi, for fifth place great tussle between Simoncelli, Edwards and Capirossi Melandri 8 ° harassed by Bautista.

A seven laps from the checkered flag Lorenzo Rossi has again taken up, try switching to the curve 5, but come along in the slipstream of prejudice out a new attack in the final stages of the contest. It is not the only duel to follow: Edwards goes for 5th place Simoncelli, Bautista took Capirossi for the 7th (with Imola later forced to withdraw due to a technical problem), Spies is very fast and leaves behind him Melandri four laps from the checkered flag with rvennate off the track. If Stoner is on the run up Dovizioso centering the second consecutive victory, is open struggle with the Fiat Yamaha the final act began the penultimate lap: Lorenzo Rossi joins the two will spend six times giving a duel in its heyday. Valentino will win back on the podium with fourth place but Lorenzo is, in fact, World Champion.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Motegi Race Standings

01 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 27 laps in 43’12 .266
02 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 3868 +
03 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 5707 +
04 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 6221 +
05 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 27,092 +
06 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 30,021 +
07 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 31,826 +
08 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 35,572 +
09 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 47,564 +
10 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 49,598 +
11 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 49,999 +
12 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 50,703 +
13 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 51,422 +
14 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 52,843 +
15 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – + 1’14 .668

Jean Todt has played down rumours he is prepared to stay as FIA president for only a single four-year term.

The 64-year-old Frenchman was elected late last year to be long-term president Max Mosley’s successor, and his reign so far has been praised for its lack of controversy.

But reports earlier this year suggested Todt is already planning to depart the unpaid post in 2013.

“That’s not true,” he said in the latest edition of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

“Nevertheless, I am not thinking today about the second term of office.  My priority is to use my time as effectively as possible to reach my goals.”

One of those aims is new engine regulations for F1 in 2013, and the return of energy-recovery KERS technology as soon as possible.

“I am not happy the teams voted unanimously against using KERS for the 2010 season,” said Todt.  “I am personally committed to having this position reconsidered for 2011.”

He said it is not acceptable to wait until 2013 to implement a new KERS strategy to accompany the smaller and more efficient new engines of 2013.

“We cannot afford to go two and a half years while doing nothing,” said Todt, referring to the global automotive push for greener technologies.

“As head of the FIA there needs to be pressure in this direction; it’s the only way we can be credible.”

(GMM)

The possibility of moving from the Spanish Jerez circuit to another speedway for two of the four test days this week was suggested.  Rain forecast indicated that weather conditions would be worse this week, but an adequate replacement for Jerez could not be found on such a short notice.

When Sauber Beat Zendher, team principal, was asked about the possibility of moving to Valencia or else, to the Portimao circuit he answered: “The circuits are taken up and weather conditions are quite uncertain.”

The pilots are waiting for the option of dry driving to be able to understand the performance of the cars and to tune them up before the March 14^th Bahrain season’s opening.  Hence, time is ticking away and there are only eight test days left, four in Jerez this week and four in Barcelona, next week.

Weather conditions are particularly bad for the new teams. Virgin and Lotus have just unveiled their single-seaters this year with two cars that start up in zero during the winter.  With scarce experience, they need dry performance much more that others with more data and experience, to be able to overcome the initial problems with their new engines.  Last week, Virgin lost the best part of the day, due to the front wing failure and lack of spare parts.