Knock Mitigation and Cylinder Balancing in an Internal Combustion Engine

An engine control system comprises a balancing arrangement together with a knock mitigation controller configured to implement a knock mitigation procedure wherein an offset input value (VI) is applied to the balancing algorithm. The offset input value (VI) may cause the balancing algorithm to adjust the control output (O1) for the respective one of the combustion chambers to progressively vary the fuel supply or ignition timing for the affected cylinder to mitigate the knock condition. Alternatively, the controller may generate an offset output value (VO) to more rapidly vary the fuel supply or ignition timing, with the offset input value (VI) being selected for example to compensate for the resulting change in the control input (I1) from the cylinder to the balancing algorithm, or to provide additional, more gradual adjustment to further mitigate the knock condition.