A brand-new engine set to recreate the exhilaration of the Formula One V10 era is due to start dyno testing over the next few months. This is the engine that will provide the primary power source for the Red Bull RB17 track car – a two-seater, mid-engined coupe with the potential to match Formula One lap times while sounding as glorious as the V10-engined machines of the recent past.
Formula One replaced 1.5 litre turbo engines with naturally aspirated 3.5 litre engines in 1989 (after a transitional season) and cut displacement to 3.0 litres for 1995. From 1998 through to 2006, when naturally aspirated 2.4 litre V8s were mandated, all engines were of V10 configuration, as the ideal compromise between a more compact V8 and a larger, heavier, thirstier V12.
Adrian Newey was the architect of World Championship-winning V10 Formula One cars. He admits that when he was given free rein to specify the RB17 hypercar, he wanted to rekindle the aural and even physical experience of a high-revving, naturally aspirated V10. There is a plan for groups of RB17s to run together on certain track days, which will create a wonderful sensory experience.
Formula One V10s eventually reached 19,000 rpm, whereas the RB17 will have a 15,000 rpm rev limiter. Nevertheless, not confined to a 3.0 litre displacement, the RB17 V10 will match the 1000 bhp of the best Formula One V10 qualifying engines of 2005.
Technical details of the RB17 engine have yet to be confirmed. It will be augmented by a 200 bhp MGU, which will help smooth the torque curve and add that much extra to the top-end power when required. The car will attain Formula One lap times through exploitation of all that power, plus hugely sophisticated aero, assisted by an active suspension system.
Newey says the RB17 will match its 900 kg weight in downforce at 120 mph and 1.7 t at 150 mph, beyond which the downforce will be bled off so as not to overload the tyres, which are being specially developed by Michelin.
The RB17 is a creation of Red Bull Advanced Technologies, which previously created the naturally aspirated 6.5 litre, V12-engined Aston Martin Valkyrie. Newey admits there were certain frustrations inherent in working as a sub-contractor for the Aston Martin hypercar – hence the desire for himself and his Red Bull Advanced Technologies colleagues to do their own thing.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has called the RB17 “Adrian Newey unleashed”. Mind you, at the time of writing it was widely rumoured that Newey was keen to be unleashed from the entire Red Bull organisation!