Innehållsförteckning för November 2024 från Racecar Engineering

‘The TAG-510 provides the brains, but it is combined with an additional unit, called an EIU-510. That supplies specific I/O needed for combustion’ Josh Wesley, senior product manager at McLaren Applied On the face of it, there was nothing wrong with McLaren Applied’s existing TAG-400N electronic control unit. It was introduced to NASCAR in 2012 and, since then, has serviced the normally aspirated V8s during the Gen 5, 6 and 7 regulations. The control unit is so good that some of the teams are still running the original ones, yet to be serviced by McLaren Applied since they were first installed into the cars, and still functioning perfectly well. The 400 unit was something of a game changer in NASCAR when it was first introduced. Although it was initially more…

TECHNOLOGY – SUPER FORMULA DAMPING Super Formula, Japan’s top single-seater championship, has implemented a number of significant technical changes in recent years. The most obvious of these was the change to the SF23 aero package last year, with revised front and rear wings, sidepods, engine cover and floor aimed at decreasing downforce and improving the quality of the racing. For the 2024 season, a less outwardly obvious, but arguably no less significant, change was made to the cars: the introduction of spec dampers. Öhlins, which already supplied around half the field up until last year, was awarded the deal to supply the 21-car grid with new dampers, which Super Formula organiser, Japan Race Promotions (JRP), says are aimed at reducing costs and levelling the competitive playing field. Whether either of…

Micrometric Ltd specialises in laser processing of metals. It uses lasers for cutting, welding, etching / marking, hole drilling and tube cutting, from large profiles to precision components and from small prototype batches through to large scale production. Micrometric has a unique set of manufacturing capabilities consisting of 12 lasers, a machining centre, grinding and wire erosion, enabling it to provide a service making parts that would otherwise be difficult to manufacture cost-effectively. The team has expertise in processing well-known metals, but also extensive experience in processing more exotic materials, including brass, copper, silver, nickel, cobalt, titanium, molybdenum, ceramic and plastic. Visit www.micrometric.co.uk for more information on services offered.…

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South Korean car maker, Hyundai, has confirmed it will build an LMDh car for an FIA World Endurance Championship programme. Under the guise of its Genesis luxury vehicle brand, the car is set to be developed by an expanded Hyundai World Rally Team, but not at the expense of the WRC effort. In a statement, the company said: ‘Genesis is actively exploring programmes to strengthen its high-performance image and, after a thorough evaluation of various options, LMDh emerged as the most strategic choice for us at this time.’ The car development team will likely be based in France and will select ORECA as its base chassis. Chip Ganassi Racing is currently in the frame to run the car in races. As many as four brands could join Hypercar in the…

Adrian Newey, the decorated Formula 1 designer, will switched to Aston Martin in March 2025 after 19 years with Red Bull. The 65-year old had previously courted interest from Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Williams, but chose Aston Martin, which has invested heavily in a new facility and wind tunnel next door to Silverstone circuit in the UK. The outfit has also secured a factory Honda engine deal for 2026, when all-new technical regulations arrive, bringing more hybrid power. In his 30-year career in Formula 1, Newey has worked for March, Williams and McLaren, before joining Red Bull and helping to elevate the team to champion status. In total, he has been central to 13 Drivers’ and 12 Constructors’ world titles. ‘It’s the biggest story since the Aston Martin name returned…

Toyota has confirmed it will contest the 2026 Australian Supercars Championship with the GR Supra that will be run by current Ford team, Walkinshaw Andretti United, with Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood as the named drivers. The Japanese manufacturer has committed to the series for a minimum of five years, and will line up under the Gen3 regulation set, alongside Ford and Chevrolet. Toyota Australia has already begun design work on the GR Supra Supercar at its Altona base. The car will be powered by a development of the company’s 23UR-GSE all-aluminium V8 engine. ‘It’s testament to the immense popularity and international appeal of our sport that a powerhouse like Toyota has chosen to join our grid,’ says Supercars CEO, Shane Howard. ‘We congratulate Toyota on its commitment to Supercars…

DAKAR – FORD RAPTOR T1+ Ford is heading to the Dakar Rally in 2025 with a T1+ class entry in the form of its aggressive Raptor pick-up. Under the company’s Ford Performance brand, the truck will mark the Blue Oval’s first attempt for overall honours in the desert classic, with the majority of build and preparation work on the machine undertaken by M-Sport in Cumbria, UK. Though Ford may not have a long history at the Dakar, it is no stranger to rallying and, with an ever greater portion of its global revenues stemming from truck and SUV sales, there is no more prestigious, or arduous, billboard for its products than the Dakar. Mike Norton, manager for Ford Performance’s motorsport activities in Europe, explains the thinking behind the programme: ‘At…

For years, we have been told the story of technology transferring from racecar to roadcar. Though with automotive now a complex landscape of combustion, hybrid, electric and hydrogen powerplants, combined with the shift to autonomous and software defined vehicles, how much of a role does racing really play in the development of today’s fleet? To find out, we investigate arguably motorsport’s most relevant category to mainstream automotive – Formula E. The championship marked a major milestone in the era of electrification as it was the first all-electric series to take to the track. It kicked off with the first (Gen1) Formula E car in 2014, which was raced by 10 teams, some backed by car manufacturers which then built powertrains for subsequent seasons. At the start, there were only 23…

The latest FIA Formula 3 car has broken cover, with a few major revisions compared to the previous version, and to the Formula 2 car that made its debut this year. The new F3 model features improved safety standards, built into the one-make Dallara design. The car will be powered by a 3.4-litre Mecachrome engine that produces 380bhp at 8000rpm. Power is delivered to the 16-inch wheels via a 3MO longitudinal gearbox, rather than the Hewland unit found in the Formula 2 car. Marelli supplies the paddle shift system, which is electro-hydraulic, and the vehicle control unit, which is carried over from Formula 2. This version of the Formula 3 car is set to run on 100 per cent sustainable fuel from Aramco, forming part of the F1 group’s target…

Williams Racing and its principal partner, Komatsu, have launched the Komatsu-Williams Engineering Academy, a global initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of engineering talent. The programme will select 10 STEM students and provide them with mentorship and support throughout their educational journey. The Academy’s first group of students will be selected in collaboration with F1 in Schools, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting STEM education. Students aged 16 and above attending the 2024 F1 in Schools World Final in Saudi Arabia this November will be invited to apply for a place in the Academy assessment centre, where Williams and Komatsu will jointly narrow applicants down. Those chosen for the Academy will have access to a range of benefits designed to support their growth and career development, including: • Early…

Lola Cars has appointed Peter McCool as its technical director as it seeks to find its way in the marketplace. McCool was part of the Lola team between 2009 and 2012, has held senior F1 design roles at McLaren and Super Aguri and, more recently, was head of design for Mercedes when it won a brace of Formula E titles. McCool will play a leading role in Lola’s development of broader motorsport technologies, including expanding its motorsport and technological capabilities in key areas such as hydrogen, electrification and sustainable fuels and materials. Former technical director, Mark Tatham, will remain with Lola as a technical consultant. Tatham is credited with building Lola’s technical team to date, and has been instrumental in leading the company’s development of the Gen3 Evo Formula E…

Anybody who has been to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, or attended a European Le Mans Series (ELMS) meeting, will be familiar with two distinct sounds. One is the swarming call of the Gibson GK428, the naturally aspirated V8 engine that powers all LMP2 runners. The other is the deep rumble of the Nissan VK56, another naturally aspirated V8 that is found in the back of every LMP3 machine. Those two have pervaded sportscar paddocks in recent years, filling the air as dozens of cars using either power unit stream past. However, from next year, the latter note will become much rarer (and paddock conversations will be significantly easier). This is because LMP3 is undergoing a major technical refresh, the second since its inception, that will see the thunderous…

The America’s Cup yacht race has long been associated with advanced technology. For the 2021 edition in New Zealand, Britain’s INEOS crew joined forces with engineers from the Mercedes Formula 1 team to help in its quest to win the title. The relationship was developed late in the competition, when the INEOS team was struggling to achieve the desired results. That meant the engineers had only limited time to step in, but the outcome was undeniable. The team recovered form and, although it didn’t advance to the final competition, it certainly felt the benefit of the relationship. That, then, was the cue to continue into the 2024 edition together. Starting earlier this time, and more carefully allocating resources from the beginning, the development path of the team, the boat and…

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER – UAVs Flying around cities in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that look like they’ve come straight from a Star Wars movie is no longer a futuristic vision. The age of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is upon us, with AutoFlight completing the first intercity air taxi flight in February this year, followed by Volocopter’s demonstration flight of the world’s first internationally certified eVTOL (electric Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft in August. So, what are UAVs, why do we need them and how do they relate to racing? These aerial vehicles don’t require a human pilot and are instead controlled remotely or by onboard computers. They fly at lower altitudes than conventional aircraft, offering a zero-carbon alternative to city transport, helping to reduce traffic, congestion and pollution. New York…

Experience cutting-edge Druck pressure sensors and calibration tools from the winning team, based on more than 30 years of motorsport expertise. Discover the new combined pressure and temperature sensor and our extensive range of test products, which are designed and manufactured in the UK. Druck pressure sensors can be used for a wide range of racecar components, such as engine oil, fuel systems, pneumatics, braking systems, electric vehicle battery containment and much more. Top teams in a variety of motorsport disciplines have benefited from their high accuracy, including single seaters, off-road, electric racing and motorbikes. Talk to our experts about on-vehicle and development testing solutions.…

The Advanced Engineering Show takes place on 30-31 October at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, and will feature the usual wide array of technologies for which the show is internationally famous. Central Scanning will showcase two hand-held Artec 3D scanners, which bring a brand new, highly accurate, metrology-grade 3D scanner to market that’s compact, portable and flexible, making it ideal for use in tight spaces such as manufacturing, engineering and healthcare. The scanners reach high levels of precision, up to 0.02mm in 3D resolution. Broder Metals Group Ltd will also be exhibiting at the show. The company is a stockist and distributor of high-specification steels, alloys and super alloys to the UK, European and worldwide markets, including the motorsport arena. Broder Metals Group also offers a diverse range of metal…

13-14 November 2024 Cologne, Germany After an incredibly busy 2023 event, the Professional MotorSport World Expo team is gearing up for what will be another very impressive show this year. The event is expected to attract 200 exhibitors and launch new products and technologies, including high-performance, cost-effective turbocharger solutions for motorsport applications, torque measurement with fibre optic sensors and high-performance cast and machining solutions – to name just a few of the technologies that will be on show. Following the success of last year’s extremely well-attended exhibitor presentations, the PMW team has added two brand-new forums to the agenda for this year. Visitors will be able to join free-to-attend presentations at the exhibitor showcase, such as the new Advanced Powertrain Technology Forum, which will take place on the first day,…