[Valve Bounce]

Patrick Head

The WilliamsF1 Technical Director gives an explanation of the new
software changes being introduced in Spain:

"Barcelona sees the new regulations that permit significantly more
management of the engine, gearbox, differential and clutch and
this will permit traction control, which will be conducted by
different teams in different ways. They will be looking to reduce
the power of the engine in response to sensed wheel spin. Some
may be using ignition cutting, some may be using ignition retards,
some may be using throttle closure, there are a number of
different ways, or a combination of ways of achieving an end
result. It would certainly be very significant if the qualifying or
race are wet, or run on a damp track. Probably of less importance
if the race and qualifying are dry, but certainly there will be many
tracks this year where it will be a deciding factor. As far as the
clutch is concerned people will be using automatic starts,
although the trigger for the starts will need to come from the
driver. He will need to respond to the lights going out and give a
command through whatever mechanism to initiate the start. The
diff control is probably not hugely significant, but it gives a little
more freedom to control the differential to assist the handling of
the car. Being able to fully automate the gearbox probably won't
make a great deal of difference, but will just mean that instead of
the driver responding to lights on the dashboard, telling him when
to change gear, it will change up automatically and change down
automatically."

HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE THAT DIFFICULT FOR SOME BRIGHT LAD TO COME UP WITH THE DEVICE TO AUTOMATICALLY LAUNCH THE CAR WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT. (Sorry for the caps).