BMW testing 2004 'long-life' F1 V10

BMW Motorsport appears to be the first F1 engine supplier to have run its prototype 2004 'long-life' engine. The BMW P84 V10 was on a dynamometer yesterday at the Munich HQ of WilliamsF1's German partner. Director Mario Theissen said that the new 2003 Sporting Regulations had helped his engine team to design the P84, which will comply with the FIA's 'one-engine' rule when it is introduced next March

Jul 28, 2003, 8:30 PM

Dr Theissen commented: "In 2003, we are already having to compete in the second qualifying session and the race with a single engine, and that has been excellent experience for the P84. This new factor has exerted a very substantial influence.

"The [2004] regulation effectively doubles running time from 400km to 800km. This means that each individual part has to be designed to be more stable. That affects the design, the selection of materials, and the manufacturing processes.

"Everything ran smoothly on the first test run and we're well on schedule. Last year the 2003 engine was fired for the first time on July 31. This year, the 2004 engine sprang into life a few days earlier. This is the most exciting point in the season for the engineers designing the engine."