Formula One news
Imola kerbs puts strain on V8s
19 April 2006The engine is put under particular strain at Imola. The teams need good torque to launch out of the slow corners, and the hard acceleration phases mean that the engine's outright power is an important factor.
73% of the lap is spent at full throttle, which is among the highest values of the season. However, the longest period spent at full throttle is relatively short, which relieves the pressure on moving parts such as pistons; counter-balancing this, though, is the fact that the generally cool temperatures equate to high air density, meaning the engine develops more power and is under greater strain.
The average engine speed at this circuit is relatively high, but the main danger for the engine comes from potentially over-revving when the car is launched over the kerbs and the driven wheels lose contact with the ground. The teams need to manage the risk of over-revving as well as possible, by judicious use of the rev limiter, without sacrificing performance over a flying lap.
However, in race conditions, excessive use of the limiter can generate potentially harmful vibrations for the engine, so teams may ask drivers to modify their shift points or adjust their line to adapt to this constraint.
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