F1 engine mapping for new Hockenheim

Honda F1 engineers have undertaken extensive computer simulations on advanced engine dynamometers, both at the company's Tochigi R&D centre, near Tokyo, and at Honda Racing Development in Bracknell, UK, to refine the range of engine maps that will be available to BAR and Jordan at this weekend's German GP on the unfamiliar, much-revised Hockenheimring

Jul 23, 2002, 1:12 PM

Some new corners have similarities with those of the other 16 F1 circuits, allowing Honda and the other engine suppliers to draw on their vast archives of data to provide engine set-up configurations to suit the new layout. The challenge will be in finding the optimum engine maps for both qualifying and the race, but the teams also need baseline engine settings right from the start of the first practice session on Friday, to enable them to carry out their regular schedules of set-up work and tyre assessment.

As is the case at every Grand Prix, the Honda engineers will be honing their programming in the Honda engine trucks, one of which supports each of its partner teams. An enormous amount of data is exchanged by satellite links between the trucks and both Bracknell and Tochigi. These data are also invaluable for the factory-based Honda engineers in Japan to analyse and employ for present and future engine development initiatives.