think we have more experience than our on track competition.’ To further enhance the
technology transfer Chevrolet has called upon its production engine supplier base to be involved. ‘We are going to take the enhancements we learn and incorporate them into our production engine portfolio.’ There is much that Kent will
still not say about the engine and that includes the identity of these suppliers. ‘This is going to be a whole new technology and we want to keep it, our partners, our approach and concept under wraps for as long as possible.’ Most of the initial concept
work for the engine was carried out by Ilmor. ‘We relied on them for the initial studies and then brought our expertise to the areas we felt we best could,’ said Kent. All components will be
engineered at Brixworth but it is as yet uncertain where they will be manufactured. The engines will certainly be maintained at Ilmor’s North American facility at Plymouth, and Kent envisages that some of the components will come from there. Conveniently, Plymouth is about 10 miles from Chevrolet’s Wixom test facility, where race development of the Corvettes is carried out. The first engine will have run
by the end of June. Track testing is scheduled to commence in
“This is going to be a whole new technology”
BRIEFLY DJ Firestorm off
to achieve,’ he said. As yet, the IndyCar Series has still to announce how it makes sure each has its fair share. Each participant will pay $690,000 under a lease agreement, considerably less than at present. This sum will be consistent across all manufacturers to avoid any one being more financially attractive than the others. Ilmor will provide the engines directly. It is important that the
the third quarter of the year, probably in September. By that time Chevrolet hopes to have its customer line-up in place. Team Penske – which was instrumental in bringing Chevrolet back to Indianapolis for 2012 - is the only one so far to have been announced, in the same way as Honda said Target Chip Ganassi was to be its ‘anchor team’ the week of this year’s Indianapolis 500. Neither Kent nor Chip Ganassi like the term, as all customers are to be treated equally. ‘We are hoping to get several high quality teams and have them work together to elevate the Chevrolet family.’ With around 24 to 27 full-time
entries projected, and three possible engine manufacturers, Kent will be happy if Chevrolet can power nine or 10. ‘For one manufacturer to have a disproportionate share would be against what we are all trying
customers are all known prior to testing, as Chevrolet then wants the teams to participate ‘aggressively’ in the development process. ‘To come to one of our tests you have to be aligned to us,’ said Kent. Engineers, mechanics and
drivers are all going to be asked to attend so that when the teams take delivery of their own chassis in December ‘they will be so much further ahead.’ Honda is currently ahead in
the testing programme, by up to two months, but Kent is relaxed that Chevrolet is on schedule. Chevrolet also intends to
supply an aero kit which, like the engine, will be a collaboration ‘providing our own internal resources with those of a technical partner (yet to be announced).’ Any team wanting to run with such a kit will, logically, have to use a Chevrolet engine. However, it will still be possible to
Students heading to DC in 2012
English R&D firm DC Electronics is repeating its highly successful Formula Student workshops next year. This time the events aimed at those taking part in FSAE competitions are being run in conjunction with connector supplier Deutsch Autosport. The half-day wiring loom
workshop is designed to give students the opportunity to get the full potential from their cars. Attendees will learn how
to design and build a bespoke and winning wiring harness from one of the most knowledgeable and technically advanced teams in the business. In addition, DC Electronics is also offering exclusive discounts on wiring products and hardware from manufacturers including Cosworth, DTA, GEMS, MoTeC, OBR, Race Technology and Stack. David Cunliffe, Director and
Co-founder of DC Electronics, said: 'Formula Student is a
fantastic initiative which provides our budding motorsport professionals of the future the opportunity to compete with each other on the international stage for the first time.' DC Electronics has more than 10 years experience in the design and build of high quality, professional and reliable electrical systems for the motorsport and high-performance road car industries. Their products can be found in rally, world touring
cars, GT, NASCAR, superbikes, F1 and even power boats. Deutsch Autosport connectors are specified across the world of motorsport. A company spokesman said 'we're pleased to support Formula Student teams and the training programme with DC Electronics
10
www.racecarengineering.com • August 2011 85
to a blazing start Wallace Menzies, owner of the 3.2 DJ Firestorm hill climber, which is powered by a Cosworth XD and has featured extensively in Racecar Engineering, has seen considerable success in the British Hill Climb Championship. The car secured a brace of second places in rounds 7 & 8 of the championship at Gurston Down, Wiltshire, UK, on May 29th.
VI-grade
conference VI-grade GmbH, a provider of products and services to bridge the gap between technical simulation and real world testing, has announced that the fourth edition of the International Users Conference on October 18th-19th. Following the first three conferences, respectively held in Marburg, Udine and Bad Nauheim in 2007, 2008 and 2010, VI-grade has decided to host the 2011 event in Udine, Italy.
Up for grabs VI-grade GmbH, a provider of products and services to bridge the gap between technical simulation and real tober 18th- 19th. Following the first th een technicaler 18th-19th. Following the first the sers Conference on October 18th- 19th. Following the first three conferences, respectively held in Marburg.
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