News

IN BRIEF

Motul has developed a high-performance 100 per cent synthetic lubricant in conjunction with partner team Mugen. Working through its Motul Asia Pacific arm, MS-A by Motul is available in two viscosities, 5W-30 and 5W-40, both of which suit Honda road cars.

Suspension manufacturer, KW Automotive, has broken ground on another manufacturing hall for its products. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, and the new facility will be used to manufacture more electromagnetic proportional valves for semi-active and active coilover suspensions and shock absorbers.

Formula E and UNICEF have launched a campaign to raise awareness of two billion children living in areas where air pollution levels exceed World Health Organisation standards. The two institutions are building on their ongoing partnership to drive action to address climate change.

Mercedes-AMG announced its commitment to invest in sustainable aviation fuel to help reduce its carbon footprint. With sustainable fuels expected to account for up to 37 per cent of energy demand in transport by 2050, Mercedes says this reflects its desire to make F1 more sustainable racing.

McLaren Applied has joined the MIA’s CTS2022 Motorsport Engineering and Technology Show to be held at Silverstone circuit on 19-20 October. McLaren Applied supplies to Formula 1, Formula E, NASCAR, Extreme E and IndyCar.

Integral Powertrain has re-branded as Helix. ‘We are more than an electric powertrain consultancy, we provide straightforward access to the most powerful, compact, efficient electric drivetrains available,’ says Luke Barker, one of the founding directors. ‘Relaunching as Helix is a natural evolution of our DNA, reflecting our progression from a hightech engineering consultancy to a full-service supplier of world class electric powertrains.’

Sentronics continues in F1

British company, Sentronics, which

has been the sole supplier of fuel flow measurement technology to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship since 2018, has been re-selected to continue the role through to the end of the 2025 season.

The company provides separate team and encrypted FIA fuel flow meters to make up the dual-sensor package that has been standard since 2020. Team sensor data is also available to F1 power unit manufacturers and fuel suppliers for research and development use.

‘We have significantly evolved our products over the last few years to equip our F1 and other motorsport customers with outstandingly accurate and reliable sensors that perform in the most demanding environments,’ says managing director, Neville Meech.

The company also provides its FlowSonic sensors to the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech series in the US, where it has expanded to include an all-new ultrasonic pit refuelling tank level sensor.

Sentronics’ dual-sensor fuel flow measurement package has been standard equipment in F1 since 2020, and is now set to continue until 2025

After 30 seasons, Peter Riches retires as BTCC technical director, to be replaced by his son

Riches retires, and succeeds

British Touring Car Championship technical director, Peter Riches, has announced he will be retiring from the position at the end of the 2022 season. Riches’ BTCC career spans four decades, during which time he has worked at more than 320 race events, 820 races and 30 seasons.

The Riches name will continue in the role, however, as his son, Sam, will step into the role, having worked within the BTCC for more than 20 seasons. His father, meanwhile, will be retained as a consultant.

‘This is something we’ve been preparing for, and I feel ready to retire,’ said Riches in a statement. ‘The world is so different now to where we started. I had a set of scales in the pit lane and a boost control system and that was basically it. Now we’ve got a 40ft trailer full of kit.

‘[As a consultant] next year, I’ll be in more of a guiding role, maintaining the things we’ve done well in the past and ensuring the wheel doesn’t get re-invented and become square in the process, in order to have a smooth transition.’

DD Photography

JGR cars excluded

Joe Gibbs Racing had the

ignominious accolade of becoming the first NASCAR Cup Series race winner to be excluded since 1960. Denny Hamlin crossed the line first at Pocono ahead of his team mate, Kyle Busch, but both cars failed post-race tech inspection and were disqualified.

‘There were some issues discovered that affect aero of the vehicle,’ said NASCAR managing director, Brad Moran. ‘That part was the front fascia. There really was no reason why there was some material that was somewhere that it shouldn’t have been, and that does basically come down to a DQ.’

JGR said it was ‘shocked’, and Joe Gibbs commented that the team ‘plan to review every part of the process that led to this situation.’

Hypercars out in force

Ferrari gave its 2023 World Endurance

Championship car its first miles on the Fiorano test track early in July as it prepares for competition starting in March next year.

In the same month, Cadillac and Porsche started their joint test session at Sebring with their LMDh contenders. Acura also had its LMDh car on track at Paul Ricard, but withdrew from the Sebring test.

The Ferrari is designed and built at Maranello, and observers at the test have commented on the build quality under the skin matching that of Formula 1 standards.

There is no word yet on the engine that the car will use, or even the name of the car, but it will compete as a Hybrid and therefore, by regulation, will have to be four-wheel drive.

Engineers performed multiple systems checks during the first days of testing, with performance testing set to begin later in the year.

Meanwhile, Cadillac and Porsche both completed five days of testing at Sebring in Florida, trying to put miles on their contenders after a summer of discontent with the spec hybrid system that will feature on all LMDh-specification cars. The motors have so far proven to be unreliable and Bosch brought its latest version to the Sebring test in a bid to cure the problem.

Cadillac (shown above) and Porsche both tested their new LMDh cars at Sebring in July, while Acura put some test miles in at Circuit Paul Ricard. The LMDh cars will make their full competition debuts at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January 2023

The new Ferrari Prototype, meanwhile, was spotted in urban camouflage at the company’s Fiorano test track. Technical details of the car remain sparse at present, but it performed systems checks before performance testing begins later in the year

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