20.10.07

As one gets older the stranger does the world. The news that Ferrari are to supply engines and chassis design for A1GP goes against everything we oldies have been brought up to believe about motor racing.

British companies like Cosworth make racing engines for sale and other British companies like Cooper, Lotus, March, Reynard and Lola make chassis'. They race in formulae like F1, F2 and F3 etc. Ferrari make cars powered by Ferrari engines for Scuderia Ferrari who race (mostly) in F1 and sportscars.

Not in the 21st Century. Most of the above firms have long-since gone bust. Most racing series' are now control formulae with one make of car and engine. With two customer teams, Ferrari is now the biggest engine supplier in F1. Cosworth's main market is ChampCar (the US series formerly known as CART and before that USAC) where their 2.65 litre V8 turbo is the only engine permitted. Lola make sports cars and some single seaters including, until now, A1GP.

A1GP styles itself the "World Cup of Motor Racing" and runs largely over the FIA sanctioned series' closed seasons, with many meetings in the Southern Hemisphere. There are "national" teams each run by a franchise holder including such luminaries as former F1 World Champions John Surtees, Alan Jones and Emerson Fittipaldi in partnership with retired footie player Ronaldo.

The drivers are a varied bunch, but the whole point of the thing is that the monkey is not supposed to be as important as the organ grinder he represents. This has led to some strange nationality rulings, a bit like the Irish football team some years ago because most of the races are won by quick young professional drivers and that's what a team needs.

The current car is best described as "interesting". The client wanted something different to the norm and Lola certainly delivered that, though they must have had to bite their lips at times. It does bear an uncanny resemblance to some cars of the past, though whether that was intentional is not known. It is powered by a 520 bhp 3.4 litre V8 built by British company Zytek

A1GP Chairman Tony Teixeira confirmed that Ferrari will supply the engines, as well as consult on the design and manufacture of the new A1GP car, for introduction next season (2008/09), as part of a six-year deal. Sadly, it is unlikely that the new Ferrari engine will be a V12. It has been mooted that it too will be a 3.4 litre V8 which will owe more to the current 2.4 litre F1 unit, rather than, say, the 348, though that engine's roots do lie in F1. Some reports say that the new car will be based on the F2007, though with some of the ruinous-to-racing and incredibly expensive aero twiddly bits deleted. One advantage of the comparatively unsophisticated current cars is that they do slide about and overtaking is possible.

It seems unlikely that Ferrari will make the cars, so this leads one to speculate as to who will. The last Ferrari customer car, the 333, was made by Dallara, but would they have the capacity as they are busy with F3 and GP2? The fact is that any number of companies could make it to Ferrari's design, including Lola.

One supposes that it is the F1 frozen engine/two race rule which has allowed Ferrari to seek new markets. They must be congratulated on a brilliant lateral move which is of obvious mutual benefit to supplier and customer. Ferrari gets the dosh and A1GP benefit not only from Ferrari engineering, but also glamour by association with motor racing's most charismatic brand. The partnership with Ferrari extends to an exclusive licensing agreement for all A1GP merchandise to use the Ferrari name and phrase ‘Powered by Ferrari’ from January 2008. It's certainly more appropriate than some other recent examples of Ferrari merchandising.

Mind you, I do miss the old days of lots of little constructors scrapping in lots of formulae, some of whom went on to challenge and sometimes beat Ferrari in F1, but it's interesting that Ferrari has seen them all off. One final thought - you can bet the A1GP engine will have good longevity and a 3.4 litre V8's the perfect size for LMP2.....

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