Introducing PURE

Whenever there is a change in regulations in F1, it always opens up an opportunity for someone to take advantage.

Usually it will be a clever designer who will either design the perfect car to the new regulations, or a designer who will find a loophole in the rules and exploit it to their advantage!

But with the new regulations on engines for 2013, a former team principal is hoping to step into a gap and potentially become an engine supplier.

In 2013 Formula One is set to switch from the current 2.4-litre V8s to more efficient 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo units as part of FIA president Jean Todt's plans for Formula One to be more environmentally friendly.

The new engine rules are not universally popular, Ferrari have voiced concerns about the new regulations, as has F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, but while the usual Formula One war of words commenced, Former BAR team principal Craig Pollock has played a part in setting up a new customer engine supply company called Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie or thankfully PURE for short.

With 12 teams and only 4 engine suppliers in F1 there is an opportunity to fulfil a demand and Pollock hopes to do just that.

'Apart from the manufacturers, with all teams there's potential, he told the BBC.

To date the company has not approached any teams regarding their power units, instead concentrating on setting up the company and working on their design.

Jean-Pierre Boudy brings a vast wealth of experience to the project with the engine designer previously working on Peugeot's F1 engines in the 1990's.

Former Renault F1 managing director Christian Contzen and aerospace expert Robin Southwell have also joined the project alongside TEOS Powertrain Engineering who are part-owned by Mecachrome and IFP Energies Nouvelles.

'Our design and development is already way down the road and we are now ready to approach the teams.

'We're going to come in with a very cost-effective, high quality engine, and we believe there are many teams out there who will be looking for a change of supplier going forward.' Pollock said.

PURE believe their engine will be ready for testing by the end of the year, potentially putting it in an advanced stage well ahead of their competition and hopefully in a position to put a customer team in place.