BMW fires up green F1 car

BMW is set to give Formula One’s new green technology its public debut by running a car fitted with the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) at a test in Spain this week.The new system, which stores brake energy and then makes it available for extra boost during overtaking manoeuvres, is due to be introduced in F1 next year. BMW’s technology was shaken down by Marko Asmer at the firm’s Miramas test track in France, completing over 30 miles.BMW F1’s technical director Willy Rampf said, “Overall we were very happy, since the basic functions of the system were okay.” The system is now likely to be run at a public test at Jerez this week, with Christian Klien at the wheel.Honda is said to have run with KERS as long ago as May, but BMW should be the first operation to try it in the full publicity glare of an F1 test. Other teams are still encountering KERS teething troubles; Red Bull had to evacuate its factory recently when a battery used in its system malfunctioned and caught fire.