[Tech Issue] Will McLaren build their own engines from 2013?

[Crazy_Pigal]

Given that Mclaren are now venturing into road car production & producing there own engine what are the chances of them producing their own F1 engine for the new (turbo or whatever) regs when they come in 2013?

Makes sense as I'm sure their goal is to become the British Ferrari, it looks good from a marketing perspective. Their Merc links have now been severed, but I'm not sure how long their engine supply deal is?

Anyway, food for though, any rumours out there?

[duke_toaster]

I remember hearing that Mahle built the engine for the MP4-12C road car (or huge bits of it), so they could possibly build the engine. Or they might get someone else to supply them with white label engines (someone like Judd).

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

I remember hearing that Mahle built the engine for the MP4-12C road car (or huge bits of it), so they could possibly build the engine.

No, the engine is designed and built by Ricardo engineering

BTW Mahle Powertrain = former Cosworth Technology.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

No, the engine is designed and built by Ricardo engineering

BTW Mahle Powertrain = former Cosworth Technology.

Exactly, so they'd be more than capable of designing & building such an engine in my opinion...

[p-matt]

Mercedes deal was until 2015 I think

[wnut]

How about Ilmor Engineering?

In late 2002, Mercedes-Benz elected to begin a phased buyout of Ilmor. The Special Projects Group found that this limited opportunities to expand its business portfolio and so Roger and Mario elected to buy Special Projects from Mercedes, along with the Ilmor name. This was accomplished by the end of June 2005 and a new Ilmor was born. Ilmor is now led by Steve Miller, an engineer with more than two decades of success in US racing.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by wnut

How about Ilmor Engineering?

In late 2002, Mercedes-Benz elected to begin a phased buyout of Ilmor. The Special Projects Group found that this limited opportunities to expand its business portfolio and so Roger and Mario elected to buy Special Projects from Mercedes, along with the Ilmor name. This was accomplished by the end of June 2005 and a new Ilmor was born. Ilmor is now led by Steve Miller, an engineer with more than two decades of success in US racing.

After Paul Morgan died in 2001, Mercedes increased its stake in Ilmor until it owned the entire company and renamed it Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines Ltd.

In 2005, Mario Illien in partnership with Roger Penske, purchased the Special Projects part of the company from Mercedes; this new company, which is totally independent of Mercedes, is once again known as Ilmor Engineering Ltd and designed and built the Honda engines, used by the Indy Racing League.

[wnut]

From the Nicholson McLaren website http://www.nicholsonmclaren.com/index.php

"Nicholson McLaren Engines continues to evolve from it’s roots as a successful supplier of our own specification Cosworth engines as used in F1 & LMS and is proud to be a market leader in the supply and development of various types of engine used in Motor Racing across the V8 & V12 spectrum. Our skill base encompases the capability to refurbish and develop either historic or current engines, reverse engineer and enhance original engine components through to the manufacuring & delivery stage, engine management to include Bosch diesel systems, CAD design, dyno testing (up to 1,000 hp) and international project or race support. We are a quality company approved to ISO 9001."

Looks like McLaren could do it in house no problem.
Bearing in mind Cosworth is the new F1 supplier.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by wnut

From the Nicholson McLaren website http://www.nicholsonmclaren.com/index.php

"Nicholson McLaren Engines continues to evolve from it’s roots as a successful supplier of our own specification Cosworth engines as used in F1 & LMS and is proud to be a market leader in the supply and development of various types of engine used in Motor Racing across the V8 & V12 spectrum. Our skill base encompases the capability to refurbish and develop either historic or current engines, reverse engineer and enhance original engine components through to the manufacuring & delivery stage, engine management to include Bosch diesel systems, CAD design, dyno testing (up to 1,000 hp) and international project or race support. We are a quality company approved to ISO 9001."

Looks like McLaren could do it in house no problem.
Bearing in mind Cosworth is the new F1 supplier.

AFAIK there is no link nowadays between Nicholson and McLaren, or Nicholson-McLaren and McLaren..... John Nicholson, back in the 1970's, used to be the McLaren engine builder, maintaining their DFV engines, as well as others (Graham Hill's Embassy Team IIRC was one)

John Nicholson, who also successfully competed in F-Atlantic as well as (not so successfully) fringe F1, went his own way, maintaining the Nicholson-McLaren company name back in the seventies. My point being it is not an in house operation or part of the McLaren Group of companies these days.

However, I am sure if the money was right, that John Nicholson would be happy to take on such a project. Not sure if he could do much in the way of starting and developing an F1 engine from scratch, but he could surely maintain some other source of engine.

[wnut]

Ta thanks E.B. I just remembered the tie up and wondered if it was an option.

Engines seem to have been significantly dumbed down in F1 now though so it shouldn't be impossible to buy in the expertise and manufacture them.
There also seem to be a number of turnkey possibilities above!

[wnut]

Engine Developments - Judd could also be an option.

[GTRMagic]

Why can't McLaren just buy Cosworth?

How happy would Sir Frank be to run a Williams-McLaren in the series?

[wnut]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Why can't McLaren just buy Cosworth?

How happy would Sir Frank be to run a Williams-McLaren in the series?

If the price is right ....

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Why can't McLaren just buy Cosworth?

How happy would Sir Frank be to run a Williams-McLaren in the series?

I don't think Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven are in a hurry to sell Cosworth. As it is Kevin Kalkhoven probably needs to shift as many engines as he can to the F1 teams that use them, so he can continue to finance his KV Racing Technologies IndyCar team, considering the number of tubs Takuma Sato has gone through this season.