According to rumours Ferrari may have teamed up with Peugeot to accelerate the development of the Italian F1 team's KERS system for the 2009 season.

The unconfirmed reports, citing unnamed 'F1 sources', say part of the marques' new relationship will involve Peugeot running Ferrari's F1 KERS system on a test version of its 908 prototype.

Ferrari is developing its KERS system with its electronics partner Magneti-Marelli, but the Maranello based team has admitted it is struggling with development of the technology and is yet to actually track-test a functioning unit.

It is suggested that the Ferrari-Peugeot tie-in could be one way for the Italian team to handle its lagging KERS track programme in the face of the looming in-season test ban, to take effect from the Australian Grand Prix in March.



However, it is also suggested that Ferrari may be exploring making its KERS available to teams in other categories of racing.

In 2008, Peugeot said it would campaign a hybrid electric variant of its diesel 908, complete with a KERS system, in this year's Le Mans Series.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

 

That's actually a very interesting way to sort of bend the F1 rules... The thought of applying certain technologies to other race cars outside of your series as a means of in-season testing and development never even crossed my mind. KERS seems like it could be one of only a few systems that would actually work for this kind of testing though.