Formula One
9 November 2009

Formula One news

Toyota V8 coming along nicely

27 August 2005

Toyota's V8 engine for 2006 is coming along nicely, according to test driver Olivier Panis. The Frenchman was tasked with putting the V8 through its paces during this week's testing at Monza.

"It's only the second time we have tested the V8 engine and it looks positive," Panis said. "We did almost 80 laps on the first day and I wouldn't have thought that kind of mileage was possible yet, especially at a track as demanding for engines as Monza. The computer simulations showed us that a V8 would be around 5.5s per lap slower than a V10 here, and that's just how it worked out."

Panis did suffer an engine failure but said of it, "I think the spectators that always turn out for the Monza test appreciated it. We had an engine failure and I found myself going backwards at 320kph. That's not so good for the heart rate! But I didn't hit anything and there was no damage done.


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