MOTORSPORT: Sounds like F1 noise a long way off

World motorsport's governing body and car manufacturers have had a meeting to talk about Formula 1 power plants next decade.

Represented at the Paris meeting were the four car manufacturers now participating in the sport – Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda – as well as Volkswagen.

VW has long been touted as an obvious candidate for F1, perhaps via its Audi brand, although more recently Lamborghini – another of the many makes in its stable – has been mentioned.

Wolfsburg's reticence to get involved in what is supposed to be the world's premier motorsport championship was attributed to the group's top brass not approving of Bernie Ecclestone as the F1 supremo, but he's now been shuffled pretty much out of the way.

For now though, VW is still working its way through the 'dieselgate' saga and has pulled back on motorsport – withdrawing from the World Endurance Championship and World Rally Championship this season – but it's understandable that it keep an eye on the longer-term future.

Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) president Jean Todt said the Paris meeting had "resulted in broad agreement for the future evolution of F1 power units".

There supposedly was consensus for the power units beyond 2020 to remain relevant to the road car industry, while becoming simpler and cheaper to develop. And for them to remain exceptionally powerful, with better sound and allowing drivers "to drive harder at all times", supposedly meaning a relaxation of fuel economy limitations. This year the cars are restricted to 105kg of petrol per race, up from 100kg last season.

"I was very pleased with the process, and the fact that so many different stakeholders were able to agree on a direction for the FIA F1 World Championship in such an important technical area," Todt said after the Paris meeting.

"Now we must sit down and work through the fine details of exactly what the 2021 power units will be.

"But we have begun on the right foot, and I am looking forward to working through the process to come up with the best decision for F1 into the future."

We gather that manufacturers are to present their proposals within two months.

But a few points here.

Firstly, we hear from an impeccable source that "the existing manufacturers were not in favour of what was announced by Todt".

Secondly, and most importantly for fans, the FIA statement puts paid to any significant improvement in the sound of F1 cars until at least 2021. The loss of the traditional noise from naturally-aspirated engines – be they V8s, V10s or V or flat 12s – has been the main reason for F1 losing its shine with its purist fans in recent years.

Thirdly, the FIA/Todt statement means little. It is only when a final, binding decision is made – as things stand, by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council – that it matters.

Fourthly, it is doubtful that all the stated aims can be achieved together anyway. Road-relevant, with improved sound, and cheaper? History, especially the history of F1, tells us our leg is being pulled.

And fifthly, while we are told that new F1 owners Liberty Media "had a representative" at the Paris meeting, was it Ross Brown, the vastly-credentialed engineer, strategist and former team principal that Liberty has made its main motorsport man? Surely, under the new ownership set-up, Brawn needs to be the man liaising with manufacturers – those already involved and those that might be in the near future – on putting proposals to the FIA.

Autosport's Jonathan Noble interpreted the Paris meeting as having come to "a broad agreement about a new path for F1 to follow – which will likely result in the abandonment of 1.6-litre turbo hybrid units".

However, the evidence – especially Todt's statements at the Australian GP barely a week ago – indicate that he is far too wedded to the hybrid technology to relent.

So how are fans again going to hear the sound they crave at GPs in the foreseeable future?

Penske driver NASCAR pacesetter
Roger Penske's 2012 NASCAR Cup champion Brad Keselowski has become the first two-time winner in this year's series after winning at Martinsville Speedway.

Keselowski's victory at the weekend was Ford's first at Martinsville since 2002. The oval track is NASCAR's oldest, at 70 years, and shortest (846.5 metres).

He won at Atlanta in round two and now has five straight top-five finishes in races with fields of up to 40.

However, he is only fourth in the championship because of a points penalty from round four at Phoenix after a laser inspection detected a weight and measurement failure on Keselowski's Ford Fusion.

Penske has appealed that penalty on Keselowski and the team, while also seeking to have a US$65,000 fine and a remaining two-race ban on crew chief Paul Wolfe dropped.

Ahead of Keselowski in the championship are Chevrolet pair Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott and Toyota driver Martin Truex Junior, while Penske teammate Joey Logano is fifth.

Ford has won three rounds this season, Chevrolet two and Toyota one.

Swede Ekstrom led the final all the way in his Audi S1, taking the chequered flag ahead of the Ford Fiesta RXSs of German Timo Scheider and Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud.

Teammate to American star Ken Block, Bakkerud said it was "great to have been up there fighting" with two-time DTM (German Touring Car Championship) champions Ekstrom and Scheider.

"In [world] rallycross we have drivers from track racing, drifting, rallying, rallycross and all forms of circuit racing, so it is great to be on the podium with two DTM stars and at a Formula 1 venue [the Circuit de Catalunya]," Bakkerud said.

"There is so much competition now in World RX with five manufacturers [Audi, Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot and Kia]."

Norwegian Petter Solberg was winner of the two titles before Ekstrom dethroned him last year. Now in a VW Polo after having switched from Citroen, Solberg was fourth in Barcelona. His PSRX Volkwagen is equal top of the teams championship with Ekstrom's EKS squad.

Nine-time world rally champion, Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, did not reach the semi-finals after a spin with a broken driveshaft in his Peugeot 208, while Block lost a position when taking his joker lap in his semi and missed the final.

Audi ends Renault run in Formula E
Audi also triumphed in the latest round of the Formula E electric open-wheeler championship in Mexico City, ending a run of six wins by Renault e.Dams.

Brazilian Lucas di Grassi came from last to first to win for ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport.

Di Grassi had to pit early in the race to replace a wing damaged in a collision with Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin, then pitted again under the safety car before half-distance for the car swap necessary because of the short life of the FE batteries.

He found himself in the lead once his rivals made their compulsory stops and kept it.

Jaguar had its best race since entering the series this season, with New Zealander Mitch Evans fourth – aided by a multi-car collision – and Northern Irishman Adam Carroll eighth.

Championship leader, Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi, scored only one point – for fastest lap – after a spin mid-race dropped him to 14th, but he still has a five-point lead (76-71) over di Grassi.

Renault e.Dams has a big lead in the teams championship, with 122 points to ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport's 91, with DS Virgin third on 43 and the new Chinese-based Techeetah fourth on 41.