Coulthard joins list of V6 engine sound critics - MotorSportsTalk

Former Formula 1 driver and 2001 championship runner-up David Coulthard has become the latest personality in the sport to criticize the new sound of the V6 engines, which were introduced for the 2014 season.

Having downsized from V8s in 2013, the new hybrid ‘power unit’ is intended to aid the sport’s environmental credentials, but the big gripe that many fans and figures within Formula 1 have had is that they lack the screeching sound of the old engines.

In his “DC Insights” blog for banking group UBS, Coulthard expressed his concerns about the new formula.

“My ear drums will probably not thank me for saying this but I agree with Bernie Ecclestone, I think the new generation of cars could do with being a bit noisier,” he said. “Even from my soundproofed commentary booth, I could tell it lacked a little va-va-voom in the volume department.

“Formula 1 doesn’t strictly need that high-pitched banshee scream produced by the old V10s, and to a lesser extent the V8s, but ear-splitting noise is part and parcel of the sport.

“Just as you expect your whole body to shake when a fighter jet passes overhead, so you expect your senses to be assaulted by a Formula 1 car. Try standing in the tunnel in Monaco when a V10 engine screams past and you will understand what I mean. It is a visceral experience.”

The Scotsman went on to explain how the sound is something that the engineers can alter on the power units, and encouraged them to do so in the near future in order to stop the backlash that is currently being felt in Formula 1.

“It is not beyond the wit of Formula 1 engineers to amplify the noise a bit,” Coulthard said. “Musical instruments make enough of a racket with wind blowing through them relatively slowly. A Formula 1 car expels its exhaust gases at over 1000mph. It might add a bit of weight to the overall package but I think it would be well worth it to recover a vital element of the F1 experience.

“Don’t take my word for it, though. Listen to the reaction from the fans. That is one thing that is coming through extremely loud and clear. We cannot afford to ignore our fans.”

As a veteran of 247 grands prix, Coulthard is one of the most experienced drivers in the history of the sport. However, given that we are just one race in to the new engine era, it is perhaps with caution that such comments should be made.

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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”