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Ecclestone wonders if F1's upcoming turbo V6s should get augmented sound [w/videos]

While every team on the Formula One grid is worried about making a good showing in this year's championship at the same time as they develop a brand-new car for next year's championship, Bernie Ecclestone and F1 circuit promoters have a different concern: how next year's cars will sound. The current cars use 2.4-liter, naturally-aspirated V8s that can reach 18,000 revolutions per minute and employ dual exhaust, next year's engine formula calls for 1.4-liter turbocharged V6s that are capped at 15,000 rpm and are constrained to a single exhaust outlet. Ecclestone and promoters like Ron Walker believe the new engines sound like lawnmowers and that the less thrilling audio will keep people from coming to races. If Walker's Australian Grand Prix really is shelling out almost $57 million to hold the race, every ticket counts. As a fix, according to a report in Autoweek, Ecclestone "suggests that the only way to guarantee [a good sound] may be to artificially adjust the tone of the V6s."
However, neither the manufacturers nor the governing body of F1, the FIA, think there will be a problem. Ecclestone fears that if the manufacturers "don't get it right" they'll simply leave the sport, but the only three carmakers and engine builders left next year, Renault (its 2014 "power unit" is pictured), Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari are so embedded that it would stretch belief to think they'd leave the table over an audio hiccup - if said hiccup even occurs. And frankly, these issues always precede changes to engine formulas, as they did when the formula switched from V10 to V8; fans, though, are probably less focused on the engines and more on the mandated standardization of the sport and the spec-series overtones that have come with it.
No one knows yet what next year's engines will sound like, but we've assembled a few videos below to help us all start guessing. The first is an engine check on an Eighties-era John Player Special Renault with a 1.5-liter V6 turbo, after that is Ayrton Senna qualifying in 1986 in the Lotus 98T that also had a 1.5-liter V6 turbo, then you'll find a short with a manufactured range of potential V6 engine notes, and then the sound of turbocharged V6 Indycars testing last year at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Any, or none of them, could be Formula One's future.

Ferrari 365 GTB/4 brings joy to both father and son

In addition to wonderful cinematography and a keen eye for style, Petrolicious has a knack for showing that cars can bring families together. Whether Nissan fans, classic rally racers or a trio of BMW 5 Series drivers, the series often proves that automobiles can have meaning beyond just as a heap of mechanical parts. The latest video keeps that theme going with a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona that connects a father and son. Matthew Lange's dad bought his Daytona in 1974 as a company car and certainly didn't let it waste away in the garage. His father put over 30,000 miles on the Pininfarina-designed coupe in just the first few years. Then, when Matthew turned 30, his dad gave him the Ferrari to enjoy. Today, it still gets used regularly and is likely going to the next generation of the family eventually. Even if the father/son story doesn't grab you, there are few things in the automotive pantheon that sound better than a V12 Ferrari. Lange even takes a run through the gears to let Petrolicoius record the wonderful engine sing. News Source: Petrolicious via YouTube Ferrari Coupe Performance Classics Videos petrolicious ferrari 365 gtb4 daytona

Montezemolo says he has "no good news" on Schumacher

Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said on Thursday that he has "no good news" about Michael Schumacher's condition. Speaking to journalists on stage in Milan at the Quattroruote Day, where he was awarded the Premio Gianni Mazzocchi in memory of the newspaper's founder, di Montezemolo was asked about the seven-time world champion. And more than two years on from the skiing accident that left Schumacher with serious head injuries, di Montezemolo suggested there had been no positive developments. "I have unfortunately not good news," di Montezemolo said on stage. "Michael was a great driver, and we experienced a long time together in both our personal and professional lives. But life is really strange. "He was the most successful driver of Ferrari and in his career he had only one accident, in 1999. But unfortunately a fall in a ski accident has had serious consequences." The Schumacher family has kept details of the German's conditions a closely guarded secret, although has made it clear that he faces a long recovery. Earlier on this year, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm slammed as 'irresponsible' a report that he was able to walk again. "Such speculation is irresponsible, because given the seriousness of his injuries, his privacy is very important for Michael," she said. "Unfortunately they also give false hopes to many involved people." This article by Jonathan Noble originally appeared on Motorsport.com, the world's leader in auto racing news, photos and video. Image Credit: AFP via Getty Images Celebrities Motorsports Ferrari F1 michael schumacher luca di montezemolo