Ilmor tipped to win FIA engine tender

(GMM) Ilmor, the British independent race engineering company, is the frontrunner should F1 become a single engine formula.

F1's governing body, the FIA, recently opened a tender process, and the main bidders are Ilmor, Cosworth, Mecachrome, Zytek and Judd, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport revealed.

It is understood that Ilmor, currently involved with the engine supply in America's IndyCar series, has the best chance of winning the tender.

Headed by Mario Illien, Ilmor built engines for Mercedes-Benz's F1 involvement with McLaren, until the German manufacturer bought that aspect of the business in 2005.

Illien, a Swiss, told Auto Motor und Sport that the ideal engine for an imminent standard formula would be an approximately 3 liter V8 with about a 14,000 rev limit.

"That would give 680 to 700 horse power," he said, adding that one unit would be reliable for up to six full race weekends.