The Turbos Are On Way Out
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday October 24, 1986
The turbo-charged cars contesting tomorrow's Foster's Australian Grand Prix will be part of motor sport history within three years.
The ruling body of motor sport, the Paris-based Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA) and the Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA), have reached agreement which will ban the cars in 1989.
Formula I will then return to ordinary aspirated engines, up to a maximum capacity of 3.5 litres and V12 configuration. Their use has been approved from next season.
FISA has ruled that next season turbo-charged cars will still be eligible (and they will probably remain dominant) but has decreed that teams must fit a special "pop-off valve" to effectively limit the amount of boost they use.
In 1988 things will be even tougher for the turbos. Their fuel capacity for a race will be cut to 150 litres from the present 195 litres. The non-turbo cars will have limit-free fuel.
Another change from next season is that special qualifying tyres with phenomenal grip but good for only one or two laps will not be permitted.
The rule changes have a dual purpose.
FISA and FOCA are increasingly concerned that today's turbo- charged racers are too quick and far too expensive.
They say the turbo, glowing like a flame after hard use, often acts as a torch in an accident and keeps rekindling after it has been extinguished by track marshals.
Because major sponsors, including Renault - which began the whole turbo thing- and BMW are either pulling out, or planning to, the rulers of the destiny of F1 are all too aware that it is the high cost of developing these highly sophisticated $100,000 engines that must be eliminated.
The chief of FOCA, Bernie Ecclestone, is on record as saying that turbo-charging has become a millstone around the neck of Formula I and must go. He doubts that ordinary people can relate to these engines.
© 1986 Sydney Morning Herald