First preview of sound of 2014 Renault F1 V6 Engine

[John S]

Comparing new engine noise to recordings of Renault F1 turbos of 85 and 86 this new one sounds good, maybe even sweeter. 

Rob White, Deputy Managing Director (technical) Renault Sport F1, confirmed: "Fundamentally the engine noise will still be loud. It will wake you from sleep, and circuit neighbours will still complain. The engine noise is just a turbocharged noise rather than a normally aspirated noise: you can just hear the turbo when the driver lifts off the throttle and the engine speed drops."

He added ''I am sure some people will be nostalgic for the sound of engines from previous eras," he concluded, "including the preceding V8, but the sound of the new generation Power Units is just different. It's like asking whether you like Motorhead or AC/DC. Ultimately it is a matter of personal taste. Both in concert are still pretty loud.''

Renaultsport.com, Today.

[cosworth151]

Sounds like a moped with a Brillo pad stuffed in the exhaust.

[Scott]

Has it got a muffler on it, or does the turbo do that?  Sorry for what every I've posted before, but I've heard better sounding bikes.   

[Ian]

Some of the cars on Gran Turismo sound better than that.

[cosworth151]

The turbine secton of the turbo acts like the baffle chambers of a muffler.

[Alonsofan]

Oh no that doesn't sound good at all

Crikey my little 125 scooter sounded better than that 

That might seriously turn fans away from going to watch live races. In my opinion half the appeal is the noise

[John S]

Just to remind all of you doubters this is a Renault turbo from 85, now I don't recall a big fuss about lack of noise in F1 at the time. You lot also are missing the point that Renault will not have released the full throaty roar from their unit for fear their rivals will pick it apart digitally attempting to gain info from the variations in note, modulation, rev range, etc. etc. etc. 

[cosworth151]

The turbo hand grenades of the 70's & 80's didn't sound all that good to begin with, and they were not rev limited. Between the tiny displacement, giant turbo muffler and extremely low rev limit, the drivers will need an indicator light on the steering wheel to let them know that the engine is still running.

[F1fanaticBD]

Why did Renault release a sound of hair-drier as their F1 engine sound?

[Alonsofan]

What it reminded me of is an old next door neighbour who used to cut his lawn once a week every Sunday at 7 in the morning and then use a strimmer on the edges. The same constant noise with me thinking, "God I hope he catches a stone and rips his blade off soon" It was highly annoying 

[lkjohnson1950]

The turbines that ran at Indy were almost silent, didn't stop me from loving them. They were fast and innovative. My Subaru barely makes a burble even at WOT, doesn't stop me from blowing off Mustangs and Beemers when they annoy me. There are plenty of Ricers around here that are loud enough to wake the dead, doesn't make a 4 banger Civic a rocket ship. If what they say is true, that they will have enough power to get the cars sideways on corner exit, I will be happy no matter what they sound like.

[cosworth151]

Loud is part of racing. Quiet road cars have nothing to do with it. That's like saying that my friends and I play very well but comparatively quietly at acoustic jams. Therefor, just as many people would go to Rolling Stones concerts is they threw away their amps.

BTW, I still remember how loudly I cheered both years when the turbines conked out a few laps from the ed of The 500.

[lkjohnson1950]

I guess you must hate the Audi diesels then as they are among the quietest race cars I have ever (almost) heard. 

[cosworth151]

Very true. I'm still hoping that Porsche's return to LMP1 will spell the end of them.

[Willy]

Having never seen the 1 1/2 hr telecast of the Hass/Lola Team start, I found this very fascinating. I especially liked seeing a very young Ross Brawn as an aerodynamisist working in a wind tunnel.
The beginnings or the Cosworth turbo was great to see.