FORMULA 1 TO GO HYBRID FROM NEXT YEAR
Slapped by critics for hogging natural resources without contributing to the environment, Formula 1 is going green, come next year. According to statements released by sports governing body the FIA, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) will be phased in over a period of several years, starting with the 2009 season and moving on a full fleged implementation by 2013. The system essential stores the kinetic enerygy while braking which is otherwise lost, which would then be used via a “push-to-pass” style button mounted on the steering wheel that drivers can employ for a temporary power boost. Its upto the driver when he wants to employ the boost.
The reaction from Ferrari team has been mixed though. While Formula 1 great Michael Schumacher has supported the technology saying it will benefit road cars and environment, Ferrari’s Vice President Piero Ferrari is against the idea saying it goes agaimst FIA’s cost-cutting measures and will cost teams huge sums of money for the system to develop.
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Its high time that motorsports fans and supporters stopped being politically correct. When Murray Walker was once questioned about the use of F1 vis a vis the costs he asked of what use was football and how it justified its expense. One can say the same of cricket today. ICL and IPL, day night ODI’s are all consuming electricity that is generated by burning fossil fuels. What about offices that run air conditioning through the day even in winters? I think the damage that motorsport does in terms of pollution and depletion of fossil fuels is in no way more than what the rest of the sports and business do in the world. All these stupid ideas will only kill F1. Keep it simple and keep it pure.