The next generation F1 engine is remarkably similar to the 901 engine
 

size-wise (number of cylinders and bore diameter). ;)

As you may know, Formula One racing will move to new engine regulations in 2014, with the current 2.4 litre V8s being replaced by more efficient 1.6 litre, turbocharged V6s. Specs as follows:

1600cc
80mm bore
53mm stroke
Single turbo (six exhaust pipes going into one turbocharger)
Direct fuel injection

Does that mean the 2.0 litre sand-cast 901 engine will have any future potential for 911 aircooled hot-rodders? Install a turbo? Improved gas mileage? ;)

It is more similar to the 80's F1 engine (1.5litre V6's and straight-4's).

Porsche's (very successful) F1 engine was 1.5litre V-6 with twin turbo's making 900+ hp.

Water Cooled - 90 degree V6 - not too sure it is very similar.

The steel 4 cylinder BMW block [very similar to the ones used in the 1502 road car] from those turbo days was reportedly pushing out 1500 HP.

Anthony.

M12/M13 Engine - as you say based on the 1501 but Cast Iron Rather than steel.

In Race Trim they produced around 900 BHP but for quailfying they gave up to 1300BHP for around 2 laps.

I think 1500 BHP is a bit of a stretch.

Great engine though. :) but they shook like a wet dog.

hi Chris,
Sorry' i said steel' but meant cast iron rather than alloy!:)
I was speaking to an ex F1 engineer recently [mid 1970's to 2010] and we were discusing the turbo days, below is an extract from one of our discusions.

The best power to weight cars were the unlimited 1.5l turbos. Neither Honda nor TAG-Porsche made qualifying engines, Honda since they didn't have a dyno big enough to develop the fuel injection on, TAG I don't know. Both Renault and BMW had special qualy engines. They were rumoured to exceed 1500 bhp, and the cars were lighter then too. The downside of these engines was they had a lower compression ratio to run high boost without detonation, but normal practice was done at standard boost levels. This gives quite different throttle response to that which the race engines (with optimum compression ratio for race boost) have, leading to non-optimum chassis setups.
It is no accident that Honda and TAG had fewer poles but more wins!

Anthony.

During the late Eighties and early Ninities I was working with several F1 teams as a supplier of 4 post rigs and damper test systems.

We used to design and manufacture servo-hydraulic test systems and our customer base included Ferrari, Benetton, Lotus, Ligier and Arrows.

We later moved into rotating equipment rigs including camshaft, gearbox and a number of other test systems. We used to supply BMW Motorsport, Williams, Renault both in France and UK , Jaguar, Cosworth and Ilmor.

I believed that the Hondas used by Mansell in the Williams were most powerful in qualifying trim at around 1350 BHP but I can't be sure.

I used to spend a reasonable amount of time at BMW Motorsport in the V10 era and got to know the guys who were involved with the M12/M13 test programme.

There were certainly a story circulating that one car using a BMW engine set a pole position and then knocked a wheel off during the slowing down lap so it couldn't be weighed.

Very interesting Chris.:)

A...