An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising: an electric motor mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber as the moveable element moves from a low compression condition through a compression stroke to a peak compression condition, the engine being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power; a controller, operably configured to: determine a reference positioning torque, the reference positioning torque being a torque that, when supplied by the motor to the engine, causes the at least one moveable element to move in a direction opposite to a direction of the compression stroke and into a starting position; cause the motor to supply the reference positioning torque to the engine in order to move the at least one moveable element into said starting position; and cause the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine when the at least one moveable element is in said starting position to cause the moveable element to accelerate from said starting position under generally low compression conditions to generate sufficient momentum to overcome the peak compression condition in the chamber, thereby reducing said starting torque required to start the engine characterized in that the controller is further operably configured to cause the motor to supply the reference positioning torque at least until a force exerted on a piston (130, 132, 134, 136) due to the compression condition in the respective cylinder (138, 140, 142, 144) matches a force exerted by the reference torque. an electric motor mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber as the moveable element moves from a low compression condition through a compression stroke to a peak compression condition, the engine being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power; a controller, operably configured to: determine a reference positioning torque, the reference positioning torque being a torque that, when supplied by the motor to the engine, causes the at least one moveable element to move in a direction opposite to a direction of the compression stroke and into a starting position; cause the motor to supply the reference positioning torque to the engine in order to move the at least one moveable element into said starting position; and cause the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine when the at least one moveable element is in said starting position to cause the moveable element to accelerate from said starting position under generally low compression conditions to generate sufficient momentum to overcome the peak compression condition in the chamber, thereby reducing said starting torque required to start the engine characterized in that the controller is further operably configured to cause the motor to supply the reference positioning torque at least until a force exerted on a piston (130, 132, 134, 136) due to the compression condition in the respective cylinder (138, 140, 142, 144) matches a force exerted by the reference torque. determine a reference positioning torque, the reference positioning torque being a torque that, when supplied by the motor to the engine, causes the at least one moveable element to move in a direction opposite to a direction of the compression stroke and into a starting position; cause the motor to supply the reference positioning torque to the engine in order to move the at least one moveable element into said starting position; and cause the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine when the at least one moveable element is in said starting position to cause the moveable element to accelerate from said starting position under generally low compression conditions to generate sufficient momentum to overcome the peak compression condition in the chamber, thereby reducing said starting torque required to start the engine characterized in that the controller is further operably configured to cause the motor to supply the reference positioning torque at least until a force exerted on a piston (130, 132, 134, 136) due to the compression condition in the respective cylinder (138, 140, 142, 144) matches a force exerted by the reference torque.