Turbo Advances

Sir,
While appreciating Mr Anthony Blight’s lifelong attachment to the unsupercharged engine I would take issue with him on his assertion that the turbocharged engine “cannot lead to any real engineering advances”. One only has to examine last year’s Formula One season to realise that Honda had moved engine efficiency into a different league. A 1.5 V6 using only 2.5-bar and 150 litres of fuel was undefeated by 3.5-litre unsupercharged cars consuming on occasions over 200 litres and with a weight advantage of 40kg.

D Ellis, Harley, Surrey