Categories: 2017 SeasonF1 News, Reports and Race Results

Ilmor, AER register interest to supply new F1 power unit

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Ilmor and Advanced Engine Research [AER] have registered their interest with the FIA to supply F1 with an alternative power unit from 2017.

The FIA called for expressions of interest during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, with engine manufacturers having to prove they are capable of delivering a cheaper power unit for independent teams. Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, design guru Mario Illien confirmed: "Ilmor has applied for it."

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko claims the planned new engine regulation was a deciding factor in the team remaining in the sport having threatened to quit F1 on numerous occasions this year.

"We stand behind this engine and will drive it," Marko is quoted as saying. "It was the condition that we have stayed in F1."

AER has also confirmed it will register its interest with the FIA, with the British company already having a twin-turbo V6 engine in its range which it supplies to WEC teams.

"AER are very interested in the proposal from the FIA," founder Mike Lancaster told Motorsport.com. "We're putting in a submission for it. The request seems to fit nicely with our latest V6 GDI engine.

"They're looking for something which produces a lot of power, and we have an engine that can do that.

"The WEC engine is the P60, the engine we're proposing is called the P66, which is a higher revving version of that. It will be ideal for the job, we believe."

Cosworth is also expected to be interested in supplying the alternative power unit, which can be no larger than 2.5-litres and is not allowed to have KERS.

The FIA is attempting to allow an alternative to the current 1.6-litre V6 turbo power units having failed with numerous attempts to limit the cost of the engines. Any interested manufacturers have until 23 November to respond to the call for an expression of interest, with the governing body asking for proof of expertise, ability to produce the engine and "a complete description of the alternative engine" by that date.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.