They have awesome potential that's for sure. Leo may have felt they had progressed with the 292 style engines as far as they could, and this looked like the next step for him to go faster. I was told by a source close to Leo that the engine made 1150 HP with a mild tune up when Leo first took delivery of it. This was easily several hundred HP more than he was making with the 292. And it sounds like even more potential is capable beyond that once he gets it ironed out.
Yes, He said it makes that kinda power. Ours made 1050-1100HP ish but we just wore it out after 15 yrs and parked it. Were building a new one and it will be the last one!
