Motori Moderni

Motori Moderni was a Formula One engine manufacturer from 1985 through 1987. It was established by the experienced Italian engine designer Carlo Chiti.

Chiti, a former Alfa Romeo Formula One chief engineer, formed Motori Moderni to make turbocharged V6 engines for Minardi, known as the Tipo 615-90. The engines were used by Minardi in Formula One from 1985 to 1987 and by AGS in 1986.

Their debut was at the 1985 San Marino Grand Prix where Pierluigi Martini impressed the F1 community using the new engine to put the grossly overweight (600 kg (1,300 lb)+ compared to other turbo cars at around 550 kg (1,210 lb)) M185 19th on the grid. From all reports of that first race meeting, the only problem with the Motori Moderni was a broken fuel pump belt in practice.

Martini failed to score a point in 1985 with a best finish of 8th and last in the season ending Australian Grand Prix and it was generally accepted that Martini was not yet up to F1 standard. Also, at the three fastest circuits on the calendar, the Motori Moderni powered Minardi was hopelessly outclassed. At Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, Martini was 8.054 seconds slower than Keke Rosberg's pole winning Williams-Honda (Rosberg had set the pole at an average of 160.9 mph (258.9 km/h), the fastest ever turbo lap speed). At the Österreichring in Austria he was 11.2 seconds slower than Alain Prost's McLaren TAG-Porsche, while at Monza in Italy he was 8.8 seconds slower than Ayrton Senna's Lotus-Renault.

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