Cosworth keeps flat out in testing.

Preparing to assume the lead role in powering the CART FedEx Championship Series in 2003 and '04, Cosworth Racing put its new 2003-spec XFE engine on the dyno this week where it underwent its first endurance testing in advance of expected road testing later in the year.

Cosworth officials took the tough approach to testing the new piece, deciding to run a pair of the harshest cycles possible in testing the engine, running 800 miles at 750bhp in a simulated Road America cycle, followed by a flat-out Fontana simulation in which the engine completed over 300 more miles at 700bhp. Unlike other manufacturers that test their engines with built-in pit stops and slow periods to simulate caution flags, the Cosworth engineers ran the XFE at continuous race speed during the entire test and were extremely pleased with the results.

"From my perception the test went really well," said Cosworth Racing Vice-President Ian Bisco, "We achieved all of our targets and the test ended with a small problem that can be easily fixed. Elkhart Lake is always the hardest test on the engine and to get through the Fontana and Elkhart Lake cycles on the first test is very encouraging."

The next step in the XFE progression will come when the engine goes through another dyno test, followed by on-track testing in November where the engine will run 400 miles on each on a road, street and oval course with the engines being fitted on both the existing Lola and Reynard chassis.