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By Michele Lostia and Jonathan Noble Wednesday, January 23rd 2008, 10:23 GMT

Jarno Trulli during testing at ValenciaJarno Trulli fears that some teams have found a way to get around the electronic limitations of Formula One's mandatory standard ECU, are now able to simulate launch control - which was supposed to have been outlawed this year.

The McLaren Electronics Systems (MES) standard ECU has been introduced for 2008, resulting in the effective outlawing of electronic driver aids like traction control, engine braking and launch control.

Although it was hoped that the absence of launch control would lead to more drama at the start of races, with drivers now needing more clutch control and having to handle wheelspin, Trulli thinks not everyone will be on a level playing field when the season kicks off in Melbourne.

He believes that some teams have found a way to make their start procedure automatic, which will hand their drivers a big advantage when the lights go out.

"I'm not going to name any names, but I think that some teams have already found a way to automate the starting procedure and reduce to the minimum the chance of spinning the wheels under acceleration," he was quoted as saying by Italian magazine Autosprint.

"I'm not saying someone's cheating, even though we've received some conflicting information at Toyota.

"But having analyzed the behaviour on the track both now and in the tests in December, the changes between them are many - and in several cases suspicious."

Electronic launch control was banned in 2004, however, mechanical launch control - where the clutch was preloaded based on data away from starting grid - was allowed until the end of last year.

Paddock sources have suggested that some cars do sound different under heavy acceleration, with this first being noticed at the first corner at Jerez during last week's test.

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Posted on Wednesday 23 January 2008

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Jarno Trulli says he is concerned that the banning of electronic aids has returned the spectre of cheating to formula one. Toyota’s Italian driver is quoted as telling the magazine Autosprint that, eight weeks before the opening race of 2008, some rival teams may have found a way around the new standard electronics developed and supplied by McLaren Electronic Systems.

He suspects that some teams are already using illegal forms of launch and traction control in pre-season testing.

“I’m not saying someone’s cheating, even though we’ve received some conflicting information at Toyota,” Trulli, 33, said.

“But having analysed the behaviour on the track both now and in the tests in December, the changes between them are many — and in several cases suspicious,” he added. (GMM)

I hope that someone has developed a system which will malfunction. I seriously want to have a launch control free season.

Of course the big guys would find an alternative Mr TRulli, before starting to search for excuses, Toyota should search for tenths.

My top guess for the most likely to have a launch control and TC system already is McLaren.

I knew this was gonna happen.
Same as in 94, well here we go again folks, I just hope some of the cars won't be such unstable/nervous death traps as in 94.

Eight-weeks before the season start and we're already wondering if some teams are cheating. I can't say I'm surprised because I expected this as well.

I think it is clear from testing that the fine and the scandal of '07 won't really stop Mclaren from contending. They certainly won't fall to 5th or 6th on the grid. They look fast at the Jerez test and many observers think they are still fastest over one-lap. Renault have a lot of catching up to do and the BMWs look nervous without the TC. I think Williams will surprise, but they haven't been in contention for so long.

When they see Mclaren start winning, I bet one of the teams will start publicly questioning the ECU and possible workarounds. Then they can start inquiring about those three parts that are frozen on the Mclaren and whether they have Ferrari ideas or not. IMO, it was a terrible idea letting them keep those parts on the car. It's a scandal waiting to happen.

Come on. Stop encouraging this behavior.

And what if happen if they found such tenths? The alternative you refer to amounts to cheating, but there is a different attitude about cheating these days. After the '07, do you think that the FIA will let teams dick them around by letting people cheat and systematically bend their latest regulations? What was okay in the past is not okay in this environment. The next instance of cheating could bring about a punishment that really hurts the sport. Let's not keep revisiting the notion that cheating has always been part of F1.

Don't forget criminal proceedings may still proceed in the spy scandal.

The fact that cars don't have ECU LC and TC doesn't mean there aren't other ways to implement it. Ignition systems, timing, clutch slip or wiring harnesses that fool the ECU. Ignition cut is very easily heard. Timing changes are barely audiable and sound as though the throttle is being backed off. Just listening or watching you can't tell the difference or see it. AFR changes are another way, but are less effective than the other two.