Mario Illien: powering F1 champions

F1: Beyond The Grid

karenellenbevan

Leisure, Sports, Technology, Automotive

4.8 • 5.2K Ratings

🗓️ 18 July 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Engineer or artist? Mario Illien is both. The Swiss engine designer powered McLaren to glory in the 1990s, and helped make F1’s current hybrid engines the most efficient in the world. Working in isolation for up to 18 hours a day, Mario has spent decades using exotic materials to make light, efficient and powerful engines for F1 and IndyCar legends. He tells Tom Clarkson the secrets of a great F1 power unit, which drivers were able to get the most out of an engine, and how he and his company Ilmor powered teams to Indy 500 victories and F1 World Championships. Plus, tales of 1000 horsepower engines, top secret projects and racing from Paris to Beijing.

Invite a friend to listen using the share button and #F1BeyondTheGrid. Check out F1 Nation’s preview of the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, and Formula Why’s latest episode for answers to your F1 questions.

This episode is sponsored by:

Silverstone Museum: cement your superfan status at Silverstone Museum – go to silverstonemuseum.co.uk and use the code BEYOND15 to save 15%

Factor: head to factormeals.com/btg50 and use code btg50 to get 50% off

Transcript

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0:00.0	Shower, teeth, hair, check.
0:04.2	Bulldog skincare, original moisturizer?
0:06.4	Yeah, but you forgot that one.
0:08.4	Can't have you walk out the house like that, hmm?
0:10.4	Go on, try it.
0:12.4	It's all day hydration for your face.
0:14.4	Ah.
0:15.4	Designed by the skincare experts at Bulldog,
0:17.0	helping men like you look your best.
0:19.4	Check out a full range at bulldogskincare.com.
0:22.4	Good talk.
0:23.4	Bulldog understands men.
0:26.0	In Formula One, with great power comes great opportunity.
0:34.6	Vickahackenon literally goes downhill to victory.
0:40.4	Look at the joy, the euphoria of the McLaren team of the left.
0:44.4	And you are looking at the world champion of 19-198.
0:50.4	The engines that powered McLaren's Mickahackenon to championship glory
0:56.4	were created by a Swiss engineer some have described as an artist.
1:02.4	Mario Illian.
1:04.4	The world came of our shoulders and when it was just fantastic
1:07.4	and all the people involved in it, you know, that it was just a immense feeling.
1:13.4	After that race, we all smoked a cigar.
	...

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