Formula One news

V8s are noisier - Willis

Honda F1 Racing's technical director Geoff Willis says the new V8 specification engines for 2006 are actually noisier than the V10s they will replace - despite the fact they are smaller.

"They sound quite different in the pit-lane - if anything the V8s are even noisier; they are uncomfortably loud now!" Willis exclaims. "They do sound a little flatter on the straights although during the latest running where we used higher revs, the V8 doesn't sound that different from the V10."

"Inevitably the cars will be slightly slower in a straight line and they will also hit their terminal speed a little earlier," he added. "Despite having to run at lower drag levels to maintain top speeds, cornering speeds, though, will be very similar to before. The loss of the variable trumpets has made driveability more of a challenge which will give the smoother drivers an advantage."

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