The Red Bull RB17 stands apart from typical hypercars. With Red Bull Advanced Technologies in charge and no road car rules to follow, the team pursued a vehicle built exactly to their vision without compromises.

Nearly three years after the concept debut, the hypercar nears completion. Its dynamic appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed gave us the chance to speak with Cosworth Managing Director Bruce Wood about what sets it apart, especially the choice of a V10.

To V10, Or Not To V10?

Wood notes that Cosworth and Red Bull reviewed all engine types before choosing a naturally aspirated 4.5 liter V10. The bespoke Cosworth unit reaches 15,000 rpm and produces 1,200 horsepower along with 811 pound feet of torque. Wood describes the approach:

'It is a clean sheet design made only for this car. Normally an engine project starts with some fixed direction from technical rules in racing or emissions standards for road use. Here there were none of those limits.'

Yet that same freedom made the final selection harder than expected.

'It created a challenge because without constraints it was harder to focus ideas on configurations and how they would fit the car. We examined nearly every layout including V6 turbos and V12s. Only detailed analysis of each option allowed a clear decision.'

After extensive study the team settled on the naturally aspirated V10 for its balance of performance, quick response, and emotional impact, above all the sound.

'A major choice was turbo versus naturally aspirated. For a true driver's car the instant throttle response of a naturally aspirated engine won out. The V10 also delivers a soundtrack that cannot be measured in numbers. That connection to the classic Formula 1 era mattered.'

With the layout chosen, Cosworth refined displacement, engine speed, and other details to create one of its most extreme naturally aspirated production engines. Although the firm built Formula 1 V10s that exceeded 20,000 rpm, delivering reliable 15,000 rpm performance in a customer track car required new solutions such as pneumatic valve springs.

'We aimed for more than 15,000 rpm, which led us to air springs.'

Unlike an F1 unit, the RB17 engine needs no specialist crew to start and run. The design accounted for everyday usability, including cold starts and piston clearances, while preserving the high rev limit and durability for many thousands of kilometers between major services.

Red Bull and Cosworth collaborated closely because the engine affects cooling, chassis packaging, and countless other areas. Every component competes for space, so open communication proved essential.

'Trust between teams is vital. When Red Bull identifies a specific space for the air intake we accept that requirement. Every choice involves trade offs.'

Even so, Wood believes the final design left little untapped potential.

'I expect we used nearly everything available. The best materials went in, weight targets were met, and every advantage was included.'

For owners the standout trait will be how the car feels on track.

'We hope drivers are most impressed by its drivability.'