McLaren not ruling out own engine for F1 – Whitmarsh

Martin Whitmarsh has refused to rule out McLaren building its own engine to race in formula one.

The Woking based outfit has produced its own 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 engine for the new MP4-12C production sports car.

For F1, McLaren still uses Mercedes’ field-leading V8, but sweeping new turbo rules will take effect from 2013.

“We are ruling nothing out, because we are an ambitious team,” team boss Whitmarsh reportedly told Motor Sport.

“Formula one is the third largest sporting event in the world and the best environment for brands to differentiate.

“But if I’m honest, we have no plans to build more than 4,500 (MP4-12C) units per year.

“Comparing the cost (of producing a F1 engine) with the 4,500, then that’s probably not the right business model,” Whitmarsh is quoted as saying in German reports.

Whitmarsh, also president of the F1 teams association FOTA, is also quietly critical of F1’s new engine rules for 2013.

“If it does not attract any new car manufacturers (to F1), one of the main goals of the new regulations will have been missed,” he said.

© RIF | GMM