Today we are going to explain the function of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System, known as KERS, that is being used in F1.

Basically it is a system that stores energy from braking into an accumulator and gives it back in the form of extra power, when needed throughout a racing lap. The extra power that can be provided is 60KW or 80hp and is available for 6sec throughout a single lap. The driver can decide when to use this extra power, and the system is being reset every time the car completes a lap.

The available choices for accumulating energy are 3 :


-electric

-mechanical

When designing an internal combustion engine there are three different designs to choose from. Each and every one of them has its own pros and cons.

Inline Engines where all cylinders are being placed next to eachother. This design is not used in F1 since the 60s, as the engines tend to be long thus needing up the need for a heavy cranckshaft.

Boxer engines where there are two cylinder rows opposing eachother. It is like having a V Engine with a 180° angle. This engine has been very popular during the 70s, as it helps a lot in lowering the center of gravity, before they would be replaced by V-angle engines as they where having trouble whitstanding the car's G-forces during cornering.

The engine is the heart of every racing car. It is the part that can't be without, and one of the more complicated ones, if not the most complicated.

In Formula 1 the engines have passed through all steps of evolution and they have been constantly changing through evolution or regulations change

An F1 engine consists of more than 5000 parts, with 1500 of them being moving ones. The regulations limit the total cubism of the engine to 2,4 liters and allow only V8 engines. The total horsepower output of these engines today is more or less around 750 BHP.

This weekend we have watched another race. It was a race just like most races we have been watching lately. Nothing happened. Nothing at all. The pole owner pulled off and finished first, followed by his teammate, and behind them all other teams according to their performing status.

The problem is that the last years we see no in track fighting. The best team wins, the others follow. Why is this happening?

This year, Toyota celebrated its 50 year long existence in the motor sport field. It has achieved remarkable achievements at Rally championships and other kind of racing championships. Within our field, F1 racing, Toyota achieved… absolutely nothing.

Back in 1999, when the president of Toyota Motor Corporation, Hiroshi Okuda, announced that Toyota would be entering F1, everyone expected the giant to show his teeth.