Champion Yvan Muller criticizes new engines

Reigning champion Yvan Muller is critical of the introduction of the new 1.6 litre turbo engines in the FIA World Touring Car Championship 2011.
“The engines are going to be quicker but also cost more. It was perhaps not the right moment for WTCC to introduce a new engine with turbo, because it is expensive,” said Muller to Bilsportsbörsen.

Chevrolet were first to develop the new 1.6 litre engine and has completed several tests during the winter. Muller has driven many laps with the new engine but is not completely pleased.

“It is hard to find the right mapping of the engine. The turbo provides more torque at lower revs which makes it difficult to make the tyres last,” said Muller.

The new engines were introduced in order to get rid of the difficulties in performance balancing between the naturally aspirated 2.0 litre engines and the turbo charged 2.0 litre diesel engines.

The power output increases with the new engine compared to the old, ROAL Motorsport estimates the BMW 1.6 turbo engine to produce about 315 bhp compared to about 290 bhp for the older 2.0 naturally aspirated engine.