Shanghai to see 1000 HP engines

Some mighty horse power is set to be unleashed on the Shanghai F1 circuit in 2005's grand prix season finale. BAR's Takuma Sato, for example, will have a new and reportedly mega Honda V10 fitted for what will be the Japanese's last race for BAR.

While Jenson Button cannot benefit from the one-off 'Shanghai special' in China because he started a new two-race phase at Suzuka, 'Taku' is due for a new V10. It will be Honda's most powerful V10 spec ever and apparently should near 1000hp.

Interestingly, with Kimi Raikkonen's Mercedes-Benz woes in Japan, the Finn will have to make do with the same engine he used to fight through the field in China. That is not the case for McLaren teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, and also – crucially – Renault rivals Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. With the constructors' title in the balance, and the new one-off 'E'-spec Renault V10 to debut, it puts the battle well and truly in focus.

''There is no doubt that Kimi used his engine very hard through the race,'' Renault's Pat Symonds said on Monday. ''That may introduce some compromises into how they run that V10 in China.''

While the title-charging quartet will be thinking engines on Friday morning, Toyota's Jarno Trulli will just be trying to learn the Shanghai layout. Last year, after he left Renault, he had to make do with watching the inaugural race on TV.

''It doesn't affect anything,'' the Italian insisted. ''It'll just take ten laps to get used to it.''