BMW gives up on KERS for the remainder of the 2009 F1 season
After using its KERS hybrid system on and off through the first half of the 2009 Formula One season, the BMW-Sauber team has decided enough is enough. The team will shelve the system through the remainder of the year while it focuses on aerodynamic development. In spite of the utter lack of success using the kinetic energy recovery systems this year, team boss Mario Theissen said the development process has been useful for the company's production hybrids. Lessons learned in developing the electric hybrid system on the race cars has been transferred to engineers working on the upcoming 750h mild hybrid and X6 two-mode hybrid.
BMW isn't totally giving up on the system though, having voted to retain KERS for future seasons. Under the current rules, there are not enough performance benefits from KERS and Thiessen says that unless KERS is mandatory for all cars, it will likely be dropped by all teams.
[Source: F1-Live]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kyle 6:05PM (6/22/2009)
Hey I have an idea lets cut down the costs of competition for formula 1. However the same year lets impose on teams a new technology that recovers the breaking energy to translate into an extra 80 bhp. Costing the teams that did employ an KERS system millions of dollars developing it, just to have it dropped the next year.
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Lad 6:26PM (6/22/2009)
I don't believe the way KERS was implemented was correct. I think instead of making it an option and an experiment, FIA should have made it a requirement and down sized the ICEs. If they are going for a full race fuel load rule, recovery of energy and a smaller engine may be a requirement.
Kyle 6:45PM (6/22/2009)
Either it needed to be implemented in full or not implemented at all. Its a great idea in theory I just dont like it that much, and I used to be a supporter of the KERS systems. IMO push to pass kinda makes things less competitive and more video game like. I would rather have the cars focus on weight saving and aero packages over something overly complicated like this. It only hurts newer teams, like USF1 and Campos.
Cameron 6:08PM (6/22/2009)
They're all using a standard ECU, if they really wanted a push-to-pass button that worked and was fair for everyone it could have been SO much easier to do. Just shows how out of touch the FIA is with reality.
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Kyle 6:12PM (6/22/2009)
FIA is rediculious. They contradict themselves so many times over this year. Another example, lets promote overtaking my changing the rear wing configuration to cut down on the dirty air following the vehicle. However lets allow the double decker diffuser made famous by brawn and red bull (slight differences) even though it completely DESTROYS the air behind the car nullifying the rear wing element change and producing more dirty air.
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Jsams4131 6:39PM (6/22/2009)
So everyone has officially given up their KERS? good, it was a waste of time anyways. technology developed for the street doesn't belong in F1...the whole point of F1 is to bring technology from the track to the streets.
PS whats up with Fox Network all the sudden; wanting to air the races...err I wonder if they thought it was nascar
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Kyle 6:47PM (6/22/2009)
I hope its to promote F1 here in the states and help back some sponsorship and support for USF1 (or USGPE I'm not really sure if the name is set).
Jsams4131 7:56PM (6/22/2009)
I'm sure it is. I was just pointing out how Fox never airs it..but its like a kick in the balls because they air it later in the day when Speed channel would actually commentate off the live feed.
Ed 7:35PM (6/22/2009)
It's a bit of a shame KERS is being discarded like this, but i guess the teams have sussed out that it isn't an advantage with the current regulations.
I would be interested to see how quick the current KERS cars would be over a lap if they simply dropped the regulation limiting energy expended. However, i realise that developing these systems is expensive and they want new teams to be attracted to the sport.
Nice to hear it's having some impact on the production car world. Something good has come of this!
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tankd0g 8:50PM (6/22/2009)
More money pissed away. Really lowering those costs Bernie!
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AutoCritical 10:27PM (6/22/2009)
I think there were great intentions for this technology but like some others have said, just was not implemented correctly... I guess in theory it is related to motor sports, but because of the whole weight issue, and others who can run a race just as well without it.. perhaps you could say there is no *current* place for it to be in F1 at the moment.... At least BMW are having ideas to put this in a road car.
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lorincdm 11:02PM (6/22/2009)
I wonder if this has anything to do with that guy who got knocked on his ass?
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hashiryu 11:41PM (6/22/2009)
BMW really screwed everybody over on this one.
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