Fair enough. Having an FPGA can certainly make various aspects easier (especially for supporting higher precision outputs), but shouldn't be necessary for basic engine running.
As I understand it, most of the difficulty in modern engines is the tuning anyway. No longer is it just a VE and lambda table, there are so many dimensions that need to be taken into account for a stock car (variable valve timing or lift, electronic throttle control, etc), to get excellent emissions.
