On 2023-08-20 10:04, bra wrote:
I was re-reading Moss's 1961 victory at Monaco, and realized that
Stirling beat the Ferraris with 151 bhp under his foot, as against
their 200 bhp.
I think you're missing a few nuances here..
In 1961, the engine displacement was reduced to 1.5 litres, and the Coventry-Climax FPF Mk.II did indeed make 151bhp, but...
...the engine in the Type 156 F1 Ferrari was the 120° Chiti V-6 engine,
which made 190PS, which corrects to a horse power of 187HP, so not quite
the difference you suggested.
Furthermore, the Ferrari weighed more than the Lotus—by something like
20kg (44lb); a fact that is far, FAR more important on a tight circuit
like Monaco.
Then I compared that Climax's engine's power with the recent W Series
274 bhp, and with the F1 Academy cars and the USF 2000 Junior
classes, which both use 174 bhp engines.
What would Stirling have done with 174 or 274 bhp? The same brilliant driving, with the world's admiration.
He had the world's admiration anyway, and speaking as a racing driver,
the admiration you really want is that of your peers.
Why the hell do we need 800 bhp engines in order to reveal who are
the best race drivers in the world?
We don't, obviously.
But what is just as obvious is that the powers-that-be believe that lap
times need to keep going down; that if next year's cars go slower than
this years, then there is a segment of the "fans" that won't be as interested...
...and I think the powers are probably right about that.
Reducing horsepower would be fine with me.
Reducing the importance of aerodynamics and letting the cars race closer because of it would be great...
...but I see why it doesn't happen.
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