BRITISH F4 TO BEGIN HYBRID ENGINE TEST PROGRAMME
Series could adopt electric technology as soon as 2021 if development is successful
British Formula 4 could introduce a hybrid engine as soon as 2021 as a major testing and development programme will take place between series organisers and engine supplier Ford next season to assess whether the technology can be included in the championship.
The latest one-litre threecylinder Ecoboost engine, along with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, has been fitted to a current
Mygale F4 chassis ahead of a full year of evaluation in 2020.
Formula 1 is the only singleseater championship to use hybrid engines at present, although the new Olympics-style Motorsport Games event will feature hybrid-powered F4 cars.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Gerard Quinn, senior manager at Ford Performance Europe. “We’re going from four cylinders to three cylinders and we know the engine is good because use it in the R2 cars in rallying. But we’re under no illusions that next year is going to be a challenging year.”
New F4 regulations could be introduced in 2021 and Quinn believes the engine is well positioned to adapt to these, for example to overcome the extra weight of a halo protection device.
“The power is much higher on this engine – we can go up to 200bhp if we need to,” Quinn said. “We have to keep the championship affordable – we wouldn’t like it to become any more expensive than it is. It’s important to have support from the FIA and Motorsport UK [with that].”
F4 promoter Sam Roach says 2021 would be a logical time to introduce the system, provided the test programme is successful.
“That’s when a new chassis is likely to come in and it gives us a full year of development and to make sure the new FIA regulations are built to allow hybrids [they don’t at present],” he said. “We’re going to be able to test it in all conditions.
“In the future, everyone is going to be driving electric cars in some form wherever they end up, so it’s great to introduce the technology to them at a young age.
“There’s been lots of interested people, and they’re fascinated to see how this works.”
The British Touring Car Championship is the only other UK series known to be investigating hybrid power, with it set to adopt a Cosworth system for 2022.
Roberto Faria is the second driver announced as competing in F4 next year. The Brazilian, who finished 11th in this year’s points, will again drive for Fortec.