Aug.22 (GMM) Williams may be on the lookout for a new engine supplier for the 2010 season.
It is believed the British team, currently powered by Toyota's V8 unit, has a contract to remain with the Japanese supplier next year. Indeed, on the 2010 entry list, Toyota is listed as Williams' continuing partner.But rumours on the verge of the European grand prix at Valencia suggest that the situation is complicated by KERS.FOTA, the manufacturer-dominated F1 teams alliance, has agreed not to fit the energy-recovery technology to their cars in 2010.Williams, however, is not a FOTA member, and is busily continuing with development of an unique flywheel-based KERS version that it hopes not only to race in F1 but also push into markets beyond the sport.Furthermore, the British team was the only current competitor to not support a vote to remove KERS from the 2010 technical regulations at a meeting of the Technical Working Group earlier this week.But while not bound by the FOTA gentleman's agreement, Williams may face difficulty in using KERS next year due to its Toyota engines.It is rumoured that the Toyota engine, because the Japanese marque has never considered using KERS, is not equipped to run the programmes necessary to control KERS.Another rumour is that Williams, whose Toyota contract contains an exit clause in the event the British team locates an engine supply free of charge, has therefore been forced to look elsewhere for a 2010 engine.A source said the rumours are not accurate.
