Formula 1 WI/AHC - Cosworth DFV V8 engine has more challengers

[Masked Grizzly]

The OTL Cosworth DFV V8 was the dominant engine in Formula 1 for many years from its appearance in the mid/late-1960s til the early/mid-1980s in terms of both competitiveness as well as the number of teams on the grid over the years which used the engine.

The challenge is to increase the competitiveness and longevity of other F1 manufacturers / engine suppliers during this ATL 2 decade period between the mid-1960s to mid-1980s such as the Repco V8, Weslake V12, Matra V12, Abarth V8, Alpine V8 as well as the BRM V12 (possibly replaced by BRM V8) and Coventry Climax V8.

 

[TheMann]

The Matra and Weslake V12s and the Alfa Romeo engines that powered the Brabham team cars in the 1970s were capable units, but what made everyone run Cosworth engines was the cheap price, easy to work on nature and prodigious power of the DFV. It was simply easier to use a Cosworth unit than design your own engine and the competitors didn't create anything that truly matched it as a package.

To beat that? The Matra and Weslake engines had the power and could be made reliable engine but were larger and more expensive. The Alfa Romeo-powered Brabhams were fast but heavy, not helped by their engines being rather on the heavy side themselves. The Weslake V12 grew rather rapidly in power through its development, keep that up and you'd have teams likely willing to trade extra bulk for extra power if the Weslake engine can make the 500 horsepower that Harry Weslake was gunning for. (Cosworth DFVs eventually made that much, but Weslake would have likely gotten there first.)

 

[Masked Grizzly]

Perhaps BRM could develop a similar V12 to Matra that like the latter remains on the grid til the early/mid-1980s, though BRM could have also decided to switch to a V8 (or given their love for unusual engine layouts even a V10 before it became widespread later on) during the mid/late-1970s.

With the ATL Weslake V12 reaching its 500 hp target, that just leaves the Repco V8, Coventry Climax V8, Abarth V8 and Alpine V8 engines (the latter being superseded by the turbocharged Renaults though possibly remaining on the grid in one form or another for a bit longer).

 

[Riain]

Perhaps the Repco 830 could have done the job in 68. But the tiny Repco organization pursued the 50 series heads dead end rather than sorting out the more conventional 60 series heads vibration problems on the short stroke 800 series blocks.

In a perfect world Repco wouldn't have done the 50 series heads, Brabham would have started 68 with 830s and Repco would have sorted out the vibration problems causing valve gear to break by mid 68 and finished with 860s.

 

[Masked Grizzly]

Perhaps the Repco 830 could have done the job in 68. But the tiny Repco organization pursued the 50 series heads dead end rather than sorting out the more conventional 60 series heads vibration problems on the short stroke 800 series blocks.

In a perfect world Repco wouldn't have done the 50 series heads, Brabham would have started 68 with 830s and Repco would have sorted out the vibration problems causing valve gear to break by mid 68 and finished with 860s.

How many years could the ATL Repco V8 remain on the grid for as a rival to the Cosworth DFV, assuming Repco remains in F1 or the engine is run under another name and continually developed?

 

[Riain]

How many years could the ATL Repco V8 remain on the grid for as a rival to the Cosworth DFV, assuming Repco remains in F1 or the engine is run under another name and continually developed?

I wouldn't think much more than 1 or 2, the nature of Australian racing was changing and touring cars were gaining in popularity at the expense of open wheelers and sports racing cars. With a bit more success Repco might have built ~40 of their engines rather than 35.