BMW says KERS is race ready

BMW say their new energy storage and power boost system (KERS) is ready for the start of the season on 29 March.

The technology stores energy that would have been wasted while braking and allows drivers a boost of an extra 80bhp for seven seconds each lap.

BMW are the first team to say their system is ready – but have not decided whether to use it.

"Our KERS is race-ready," said team boss Mario Theissen. "Now it is just a matter of weighing the pros and cons."

BMW will decide whether to fit KERS to their cars in Melbourne, Australia, where practice starts on 27 March, after evaluating a complex set of parameters determining whether it will give them an overall performance advantage or not.

"On the positive side, the drivers would have an extra 82 horsepower at their disposal for 6.6 seconds per lap," said Theissen.