Analysing Porsche's future F1 prospects

Amid hints from Porsche that it could be Formula 1-bound, Dieter Rencken investigates the chances of the German icon - or one of its VW Group stablemates - joining the fray

It was this column which six weeks ago first disclosed that a VW Group executive had attended meetings of the FIA's Engine Working Group which was charged with formulating power unit regulations for grand prix racing from 2013 through to 2017.

Then, in a follow-up a fortnight later the various options facing the EWG were analysed, including 1600cc inline four cylinder units versus (rejected) V6 architecture based on existing 2400cc V8 engines, plus proposed ancillary technology such as KERS and compound super/turbocharging. The feature pointed out the concept was deployed in VW's award-winning high-performance inline four-cylinder Twincharge engine. Thus the new regulations, if accepted, would offer the Group the benefits of bilateral technology transfer.

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