Cosworth is slated to make a return to Formula One in 2010 after reports that the FIA will be pushing their nomination as the standardized engine producer for Formula One, provided F1 teams fail to bring out their own cost-cutting measures.
The FIA revealed that they were in separate discussions with Cosworth along with gearbox specialists Xtrac as well as Ricardo Transmissions (XR). The three are being looked at to provide a low cost solution to the engine problem that plagues most teams today. The engine is said to be based on the current specifications for a V10 while the gearbox is said to be something totally new and state of the art.
Among the other options provided by the FIA to the Formula One teams is the option to build their own engines within the specifications provided by Cosworth or to continue racing with their frozen V8s. The teams, however, will be provided the new gearbox irrespective of the engine’s manufacturer.
While many teams have already opposed this move, they are expected to come up with an alternative solution for the engines before the World Council meeting.
The news to bring low cost measures into the sport followed the pull-out by Honda in Formula One racing. “As the guardians of the sport, the FIA is committed to working with the commercial rights holder and the remaining members of FOTA to ensure that Formula One becomes financially sustainable,” read an FIA statement. The statement also mentioned that if any of the teams choose to abide by the offer made by the FIA, in terms of the Cosworth engines, they need to do so before December 11th.