In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of the moments when machines and humans connect through the F1 Grand Prix and the sound of car engines.
The F1 Korean Grand Prix was held in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, from October 14 to 16, 2011. The F1 Grand Prix is one of the world’s most recognizable motorsports events, alongside the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. However, despite its international fame, it has not established itself as a mainstream sport in South Korea. The F1 Korea Grand Prix was first held in South Korea in 2010, and a total of four races were held through 2013; however, the F1 Grand Prix is no longer held in South Korea.
Most media articles covering F1 emphasize the thrill of the sport by using phrases such as “lightning-fast racing in the rain,” “storm-like racing at 350 km/h,” “overtaking battles,” and “a festival of speed.” They consistently focus on the aspect of “speed.” Of course, speed is extremely important in F1 racing. However, another element that cannot be overlooked is the “sound” produced by the engine—the epitome of automotive technology. If you focus solely on speed while ignoring the engine sound, it’s not much different from watching an action movie with the sound turned off.
In fact, my first encounter with an F1 Grand Prix was during a trip to the UK when I was in my third year of middle school. I was staying at the Silverstone Circuit in central-eastern England when, coincidentally, an F1 Grand Prix was taking place. Since I wasn’t particularly interested in cars at the time, I just thought, “Oh, they’re having a car race.” I even managed to get a scalped ticket to get into the venue, but aside from the main grandstand, most of the seating was standing room only, and I couldn’t see the cars racing properly because tall adults were blocking my view.
Yet, that experience left an even more powerful impression on me. This was because the sound I heard with my ears, rather than the cars I saw with my eyes, came as a tremendous shock. My body shivered. It felt as though life had been breathed into cold machines, causing them to race forward. Since then, I’ve found myself focusing more intently on the sound of engines, whether I’m watching cars pass by on the road or driving myself.
Compared to the past, the world has made tremendous progress. Technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, and material and mechanical civilizations have become even more powerful and vast. In contrast, humans have become increasingly dependent on machines. The power that humans once possessed has shifted to the mechanical civilization, and humans now depend on it, sometimes even feeling alienated within it. However, the automobile remains the most familiar machine, accompanying humans more closely than any other.
In the past, horses were commonly referred to as “beloved steeds.” Now, as time has passed, it is the automobile that has taken the place of horses in facilitating our mobility. With the advancement of science and technology, the automobile has become an inseparable part of human life, and even today, we refer to the automobile—which is merely a machine—as a “beloved steed.”
Cars have evolved alongside the development of human civilization. With features that didn’t exist in the past—such as electric power steering, automatic transmissions, various electronic control systems, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS)—now standard, cars have become increasingly complex and sophisticated machines. We’ve entered an era where even a skilled mechanic finds it difficult to perform all maintenance tasks using only basic tools. However, no matter how complex or sophisticated they become, the fundamental purpose of a car is to run well. For a car to drive well, it needs sufficient power, and the source of that power is the engine. Of course, one of my friends who really loves music often jokes that the audio system is more important than the engine.
It was when I first got my driver’s license and started driving. Late one night, I sat in the driver’s seat of the Grandeur—equipped with a 3.0L V6 engine—that my parents used for their daily commute.
The exit sign for the underground parking garage was visible above the steering wheel. When I pressed the brake and started the engine, the sound that came with a slight vibration felt as if the car were responding to my call. At that moment, I could clearly feel it. That sound seemed to be saying, “Let’s drive wherever you want to go.”
The engine responds instantly when I press the accelerator pedal. The engine speed (rpm) rises in proportion to how hard I press the pedal, and the engine sound changes accordingly. That shifting sound conveys the sensation that this cold machine is truly alive. Feeling the vitality emanating from the machine, I feel as though I’m conversing and connecting with this sophisticated piece of engineering.
The engine is a concentration of numerous cutting-edge core technologies. Differences in a car’s performance ultimately stem from differences in the performance produced by the engine. Just as the heart is the force that allows humans to live, breathe, and move, the engine is the force that propels a car. And one of the most direct ways to check the engine’s condition is to listen to its sound.
Therefore, the sound of the engine can be described as the sound of the force that sustains the life of a cold, mechanical machine. The sound of an engine is not merely a mechanical noise. It sparks the imagination, allowing one to envision how each component meshes and moves together to create a single, immense force of life. It is a sound that evokes the power humanity lost at the dawn of time, and at the same time, it is a sound that inspires frail humans to dream of freedom beyond the limits of everyday life. That is why it may be only natural for my heart to beat in unison with the sound of a car’s engine.
