The world-leading motorsport business is partnering with X44 to run the team at each round of the five-race series.

X44 will take its followers on a journey of discovery, to show first-hand how human actions are damaging the planet, racing electric vehicles in five remote locations that are already damaged or severely under threat of climate change. The five locations will highlight a variety of serious climate issues including melting ice caps in Greenland, deforestation in Brazil, and rising sea levels in Senegal.

Each X-Prix race weekend will include two days of all-action, short, sharp wheel-to-wheel racing, with world-class drivers and nine teams. Prodrive-contracted drivers Sébastien Loeb, and fellow Dakar competitor, Cristina Gutiérrez, will compete in the X44 ODYSSEY 21. The bespoke E-SUV produces 400 kW (550 bhp) and is capable of reaching 100 kph in 4.5 seconds.

Sébastien Loeb is one of the greatest rally drivers of all time and a legend of the motorsport world, with a record nine World Rally Championships and 79 WRC wins to his name. He has also achieved three Race of Champions wins in which he competed against the world’s best racing and rally drivers.

Driving alongside Sébastien will be gifted Spanish driver Cristina Gutiérrez. Gutierréz is a promising upcoming talent who made history in the 2017 Dakar Rally by becoming the first Spanish female driver to finish the race in the car category, finishing fifth place among the debutantes. Widely known as the toughest rally in the world, Cristina has now finished the race five times, and her talents have been further showcased in her home country, where she previously secured a second-place overall position in the mixed-gender All-Terrain Spanish Rally Championships, finishing top of the female category between 2011 and 2016.

Prodrive chairman and founder David Richards said: “Extreme E is such an exciting and unique concept and I have been fascinated by the project ever since Alejandro launched it almost two years ago. When Lewis then announced his interest in a team it was a great opportunity for Prodrive to help him realise his personal ambitions from the series.”

Prodrive is one of the most successful motorsport businesses in the world. The company has won six World Rally Championship titles; six Le Mans titles; five British Touring Championships; and is the reigning FIA World Endurance Championship GT Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ champions with Aston Martin Racing. 

Visit Prodrive's website here.

AP Racing’s latest state-of-the-art noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) dynamometer is now fully operational – further enhancing its world-class capabilities at its new R&D facility in Coventry.

The dyno will enable AP Racing to ramp up development and testing of high-performance braking systems for race and road vehicle markets. The leading manufacturer of performance brake and clutch systems has invested £1.5 million in the cutting-edge Model 3900 from specialist manufacturer Link.

Using the dyno, AP Racing can simulate all braking manoeuvres performed on a vehicle from high speed stops and track use, to low-speed brake drag protocols. The dyno also includes an environmental control chamber capable of mounting the vehicle suspension corner and performing temperature and humidity controlled tests from -40 to +70 degrees Celsius. 

NVH is becoming an increasingly important element of brake refinement as internal combustion engines are gradually being replaced by ‘silent’ electric powertrains. The NVH dyno allows the vehicle brake systems to be tested on representative suspension at an early prototype stage and potential NVH issues recognised and solved before a prototype vehicle is built or assessed at a proving ground. Therefore, vehicle build phases can be eliminated, reducing program costs and lead times for the vehicle manufacturer.

In addition to the core NVH capabilities, the dyno has fixtures which enable AP Racing engineers to measure brake drag (important for range sensitive electric vehicles) and mount vehicle suspension corners for more detailed NVH studies. The dyno facility is designed to run unmanned during many of the standardised tests, which further reduces product development lead times as testing can be carried out 24 hours a day. 

The NVH dynamometer has been installed inside AP Racing’s new R&D area. This is within its 2,700m2 production facility that incorporates industry-leading technology for the manufacture of performance car brake calipers.

The facility has increased AP Racing’s production capacity at its West Midlands headquarters, whilst enabling it to achieve the highest levels of product traceability, quality and security. This is alongside offering the flexibility to support the company’s full range, including motorsport and performance upgrades.

David Hamblin, MD of AP Racing, enthused: “We are excited to see the NVH dynamometer installed and fully operational. It is a hugely impressive piece of machinery with exceptionally precise R&D capabilities.

“This latest investment completes the next step in our growth plan and is further evidence of the company’s commitment to maintaining a world-class R&D facility here in Coventry.”

For more information visit: www.apracing.com 

The FIA is pleased to confirm the commitment of Hyundai, Toyota and M-Sport Ford in preparation for the 2022 World Rally Championship, when Hybrid power will be introduced in the top tier of the series. The three-year agreement includes a shared contribution to the development costs of the technology for this new era, which will have a strong focus on safety, cost management and sustainability.

The Rally1 category continues to gather momentum ahead of its planned 2022 roll-out, with the commitment from the series’ current manufacturers coming as a new milestone following the approval of the technical regulations by the World Motor Sport Council and the confirmation of the safety cell details with the conclusion of the physical crash testing.

The three automotive firms have agreed to a set of principles in the form of a “new deal” that formalizes the close collaboration between all WRC stakeholders – manufacturers, WRC Promoter and FIA – started in 2019, when the introduction of hybrid technology in 2022 was announced.

In this joint initiative, the FIA and WRC Teams are committing equally to the development of the hybrid technology that will be incorporated in the new-generation cars. In addition, the FIA introduces an innovative partnership model based on a three-year cycle, unlike the current annual commitment, which will offer better stability and planning opportunities as well as a new marketable asset for all parties.

Through this model, the participation in the FIA World Rally Championship will shift in 2022 to a numerus clausus system of four slots, with each of the three current manufacturers and the FIA owning one slot. 

While securing the commitment of the three current manufacturers until 2024, the FIA reaffirms its determination to developing new stability and cost-effective solutions at difficult times commercially.

Jean Todt, FIA President, said: “The FIA World Rally Championship is on the brink of reaching an important milestone with the new-generation cars, Rally1, coming in 2022. A switch to plug-in Hybrid power reflects the latest trends in the automotive industry, at the same time making the sport more sustainable. This was made possible owing to the joint efforts of the Manufacturers and the FIA. The fact that all three of the brands currently involved in the championship committed for a further three years proves that world rallying is heading in the right direction. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this achievement. And this comes together with the transition to sustainable energy, which is one of the main objectives of the FIA and its Purpose Driven movement.”

MSC Software has been a key partner to the Space Industry since the 1960s.  Many people associate MSC only with Nastran, which is the keystone of their product set, but through a process of development and acquisition, they have developed a portfolio of tools that are used across a number of domains within engineering simulation in the Space Industry. 

DTE are a business partner to MSC Software with a roster of clients large and small in the satellite segment.  At DTE we prefer to focus on problems solved rather than features and functions.

This video takes an overview of how some key MSC products are used, structured around four basic questions:

• Will it survive launch?
• Is it as lightweight as it can be?
• Can it fulfill its operational role?
• Will the thermal loads affect its ability to perform?

Following the news last week that Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Oreca would be developing the chassis for the Le Mans 24 Hours hydrogen class, due to arrive in 2024, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has confirmed that GreenGT will supply the spec powertrain components for all cars in the class.

The Swiss company has been a partner on the project since its inception, but until the ACO’s announcement it was not confirmed as the final supplier. Notably, the states that the fuel cell stack itself, including the cells, control hardware and software, will be open to development by competing teams; GreenGT will only be responsible for the traction motors, battery system and transmission.

ACO president Pierre Fillon commented, “The forthcoming hydrogen class is really taking shape. GreenGT was an obvious choice for us. We had already been working together for several years and the expertise we have built up thanks to the MissionH24 project will benefit the teams that enter the class. We know where we want to go, and with excellent companions to help us on the way, the ACO is determined to achieve the goal of making a real contribution to sustainable mobility.”

Read more here.

• new Business Rates relief fund of £1.5 billion for businesses affected by COVID-19 outside the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors
• targeted support delivered as appeals against rates bills on basis of material changes of circumstance due to the pandemic to be ruled out
• the relief fund will get cash to affected businesses in the most proportionate and equitable way

Ministers have set out plans to provide an extra, targeted support package for businesses who have been unable to benefit from the existing £16 billion business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses have not been paying any rates during the pandemic, as part of a 15 month-long relief which runs to the end of June this year.

Many of those ineligible for reliefs have been appealing for discounts on their rates bills, arguing the pandemic represented a ‘material change of circumstance’ (MCC).

The government is making clear today that market-wide economic changes to property values, such as from COVID-19, can only be properly considered at general rates revaluations, and will therefore be legislating to rule out COVID-19 related MCC appeals.

Instead the government will provide a £1.5 billion pot across the country that will be distributed according to which sectors have suffered most economically, rather than on the basis of falls in property values, ensuring the support is provided to businesses in England in the fastest and fairest way possible.

Allowing business rates appeals on the basis of a ‘material change in circumstances’ could have led to significant amounts of taxpayer support going to businesses who have been able to operate normally throughout the pandemic and disproportionately benefitting particular regions like London.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said:
Our priority throughout this crisis has been to protect jobs and livelihoods. Providing this extra support will get cash to businesses who need it most, quickly and fairly.

By providing more targeted support than the business rates appeals system, our approach will help protect and support jobs in businesses across the country, providing a further boost as we reopen the economy, emerge from this crisis, and build back better.

Secretary of State at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick said:

Throughout the pandemic we have provided unprecedented support to businesses. Today are going even further with an extra £1.5 billion for councils to provide additional targeted support to those businesses that have not already received rate relief. This is the fastest and fairest way of getting support to businesses who need it the most.

We are also acting to ensure businesses have certainty over their bills and councils have certainty over their funding so they can continue to support their communities and deliver quality local services.

The £1.5 billion pot will be allocated to local authorities based on the stock of properties in the area whose sectors have been affected by COVID-19. Local Authorities will use their knowledge of local businesses and the local economy to make awards.

We’ll work with and support local government to enable ratepayers to apply as soon as possible this year, once the legislation relating to MCC provisions has passed and local authorities have set up local relief schemes. By contrast, individual appeals based on MCCs could have taken years to resolve in some cases.

Around 170,000 businesses have made claims for MCCs. Initial claims were confined to a discrete cohort of properties and handled by the Valuation Office Agency, but claims multiplied as the pandemic and public health measures evolved. Covid restrictions have affected all or nearly all commercial properties in England – well beyond the scope of any previous application of the MCC provision.

A core principle of the business rates system is that economic factors are captured at revaluations, with the MCC system usually applying to issues such as physical changes to the property or surrounding area – for example significant roadworks near a property that affect its value.

Business rates are devolved so the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive an additional £285 million through the Barnett formula as a result of today’s announcement.

Further information:

The £1.5 billion pot will be distributed according to official data on the impacts of the pandemic on different sectors, ensuring an even and more proportionate allocation of support across England based on the economic impacts of COVID-19 and not on estimates of the impact on a property’s value.

We’ll work with and support local government to enable ratepayers to apply as soon as possible this year, once the legislation relating to MCC provisions has passed and local authorities have set up local relief schemes.

Find out more on gov.uk

Rimac Automobili already has close ties to the UK, with H.R. Owen as a part of the global partners network. The company has already provided electrified technology to a number of British automotive brands such as Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover, as well as being a supplier to many of the world’s largest car makers, including Hyundai, Porsche, Automobili Pininfarina, Koenigsegg and others.

Soon, Rimac will reveal the ultimate showcase of its EV technology: their hypercar C_Two, in its final form. Designed, engineered and built in-house at Rimac Automobili, and subject to a multi-year homologation process, the C_Two will soon enter series production, limited to 150 units. The Rimac C_Two promises a top speed of 258 mph (412 km/h), a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of under two seconds, and a 0-100 mph (161 km/h) time of 4.3 seconds.

Read the full article here.

Nissan announced its long-term commitment to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship through to the end of Season 12 (2025-2026) of the all-electric racing series. Nissan joined the series in Season 5 as the only Japanese manufacturer. The Gen3 era of the championship begins in Season 9 (2022-23) and will feature even more powerful, faster cars.

Nissan races in Formula E to bring the excitement and fun of zero-emission electric vehicles to a global audience. As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify all-new Nissan vehicle offerings by the early 2030s.

The Japanese manufacturer aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the race track and road for better electric vehicles for customers.

“Nissan’s vision for cars goes far beyond simply modes of transport,” said Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer. “We aim to design and build electric vehicles that transform the way communities connect and move, and inspire us all to work towards a sustainable society.

"For Nissan, Formula E helps us bring excitement, energy and the environment to the forefront as we deliver this vision of the future to an ever-growing, new, young and diverse audience.”

In its first two seasons in Formula E, Nissan focused on its 'Phase One: road-to-track' technical objectives, which took experience and learnings from the LEAF, Nissan’s most recognizable road-going EV, to develop the performance of the Nissan e.dams race car. In its debut season, Nissan e.dams was the best qualifying team in the championship, while in its second campaign, the outfit powered to second place in the Teams' Championship.

As Nissan races into Season 7 and looks toward the Gen3 era from Season 9, it embarks on 'Phase Two: track-to-road' of its technology transfer goals, where the technically fast-moving championship will help Nissan showcase features that aim to encourage consumer adoption of its EVs.

“We’ve achieved great results during our first two seasons and renewing our long-term commitment to Formula E is a key step,” said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director.

“We entered the sport with a 'road-to-track' technical transfer approach, and by extending our racing program through the Gen3 era, we have the opportunity to close the circle with 'track-to-road' technical transfer.

"We believe that, as one of the most global manufacturers involved in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, this sport is the perfect platform to promote our expertise in electrification and demonstrate our commitment to more sustainable mobility solutions.”

he first races of the 2020/21 season took place in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, as a double-header event at the end of February, where Formula E raced for the first time as an FIA World Championship. It was also Formula E’s first night race, with the cars racing under floodlights. Nissan e.dams notched 14 Teams' Championship points.

Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, said: “Nissan is recognised for its pioneering electric vehicles and we’re delighted to work with them as they develop their next generation line-up. They have rapidly proven themselves a force to be reckoned with on our grid too.

"The performance benefits of Gen3 will create more intense competition on track and drive progress off track, showing car buyers the full potential of electric vehicles. We are delighted Nissan will embark on this next phase of Formula E’s journey.

Olivier and Gregory Driot, Team Principals of Nissan E.dams, said: “Nissan’s commitment to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship shows the strength of the all-electric racing series and its pursuit of success in the next phase. The new Gen3 cars will be faster and more powerful, and this constant evolution of racing performance that we continue to see in Formula E is great for the fans and the sport.”

Read the full article here.

• Heart of Racing stars in close GTD battle during US endurance classic
• Vantage GT3 records second podium finish of 2021 international season
• Aston Martin Racing works driver Ross Gunn records first IMSA podium

The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 recorded its second international podium finish of 2021 as partner team Heart of Racing recorded a brilliant third place in the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring on Saturday evening. It was also the second time in a row that the Seattle-based team had finished on the podium at the Florida venue.
 
The #23 Heart of Racing Vantage, driven by team principal Ian James (GB), Roman De Angelis (CN) and Aston Martin Racing works driver Ross Gunn (GB), ran near the front of the GTD class for the majority of the race, having quickly worked their way up from P9 at the start. A smooth run through the event with strong stints from both his team-mates allowed Gunn to inherit the lead when he climbed into the car for his final stint, only to drop to third as the pitstops cycled through.
 
But then a late Full Course Yellow with 30 minutes to go in the incident-packed race meant that the Englishman had to withstand immense pressure in the final stages. This only subsided when a rival Porsche was served with a penalty on the penultimate lap, freeing Gunn up to take his first IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship podium.
 
“This was an awesome result and the team thoroughly deserved it,” said Gunn. “We looked strong at Daytona back in January, and we’ve performed well all day again today, so the Aston Martin Vantage was good for this result. The more we race it over here in the US, the faster it seems to get, so let’s hope it can land a victory soon!”
 
James added: “Great day here at Sebring to get consecutive 12 Hour podiums for the Heart of Racing Aston Martin. I’m super proud of all the team. Roman and Ross drove really well and everyone executed all race long. This puts us in a good points position heading into the next race and leaves us excited for the rest of the season.”
 
Aston Martin Racing President David King added: “The Sebring 12 Hours is a gruelling event and tough for drivers, cars and teams, as it proved again this year, so to finish on the podium is an excellent performance from our partners Heart of Racing. It’s also another demonstration of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3’s growing competitiveness as a customer-based GT car in the USA and fully justifies our commitment to customer racing around the world in 2021.”
 
The next race in the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship is at Mid-Ohio on 14-16 May.

Read the full article here.

• Radford recently relaunched by leading designer Mark Stubbs, broadcaster and motor specialist Ant Anstead, former FIA Formula OneTM World Champion, Jenson Button and leading business adviser and lawyer Roger Behle

• Radford is being revitalised as a global luxury automotive brands, with British heart and soul

Radford has use of its own race track. Following its recent return, the iconic coachbuilder is announcing its association with the recently renamed Radford Racing School, in Arizona, USA.

The iconic Radford brand is being revitalised by leading car designer Mark Stubbs, TV presenter and car builder Ant Anstead, former FIA Formula OneTM World Champion, Jenson Button, and leading business adviser and lawyer Roger Behle. The agreement to grant Radford use of the racetrack was instigated by the Radford board and Stig Investments, which owns the track facility.

Radford will create contemporary luxury commissions true to classic timeless designs, bringing a modern and relevant version of coachbuilding, to a new discerning clientele.

Jenson Button “For a car to be truly great, it has to feel as good as it looks. It has to possess both style and substance in equal measures, and that you can only achieve through extensive testing and improvement.

“Great engineering is only achieved through obsession over every detail and marginal gains. The testing that all Radfords will be put through is integral to creating the smiles on the faces of those that get to drive them. A race track is the perfect environment for this and it’s also my happy place of course.”

Ant Anstead “Not many coachbuilders have a racetrack to call home. For all of us, part of the revival of the Radford brand is to stay true to founder Harold Radford. He was an innovator – and he would want his cars to be perfect in every way. Track development, led by Jenson, is integral to achieving that for our future cars.  

“As we revive this famous brand, this marks the first of many exciting developments and partnerships. We can’t wait to share them with you.”

The first Radford car is already in development and will be subject to an announcement soon.

Sauber Motorsport, which manages and operates the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN entry in the Formula One world championship, is extending its successful partnership with automotive supplier Marelli.

A brand with an extensive track record in Formula One, Marelli has been associated with Sauber Motorsport since 2019 in a relationship based on the strong heritage of the two companies, which both firmly feature the motorsport and automotive sectors in their DNA.

For Marelli, motorsport represents a perfect technical challenging environment, where the company can employ their proven track record of technological innovation and manufacturing excellence – a driving force behind Sauber Motorsport as well.

This season’s Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN cars will continue featuring Marelli’s high-quality products, with the Marelli logos proudly appearing on the C41’s bodywork.

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN and CEO Sauber Motorsport AG: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Marelli. Their products are fully integrated into our cars as a result of the multi-year relationship we have been enjoying so far and will keep on representing the gold standard in the sector. In Marelli, we have a partner with an unquestionable motorsport heritage, a brand with an experience in racing and a passion for competition that aligns with that of Sauber Motorsport.”

Riccardo De Filippi, Senior Vice President and CEO of Marelli Motorsport: “We are honoured to extend our collaboration with the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN team. They are definitely the right partners to be associated with for our brand, provided all the values and culture that we share. Such values, culture, technical and professional skills are key features of the whole team, as well as of its fantastic and talented drivers, Kimi, Antonio and Robert.”

Read the full article here.

WSR are excited to today (Wednesday) reveal the livery that the three Team BMW 330i M Sports will carry in the 2021 British Touring Car Championship.

Sporting a revised colour scheme, the three black BMWs will be raced by four-time series champion Colin Turkington, Tom Oliphant and Stephen Jelley this season.

Bearing the iconic BMW M stripes in Bavarian Blue, violet and red on a menacing matt-black base, the new-look race cars pay homage to some of BMW Motorsport’s greatest successes in GT and touring car racing of the past decade.

In 2020 Team BMW claimed the Teams’ title while BMW equalled the series’ all-time record of five consecutive Manufacturers’ crowns, bringing WSR to a total of 14 BTCC championship successes.

The trio of 3 Series will carry the new livery on-track for the first time on March 23 at Brands Hatch as pre-season testing continues over two days.

The BTCC season begins at Thruxton on May 8-9 and comprises 10 triple-header events the length and breadth of the country.  All 30 races will be screened live on ITV4 in high definition.

Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “It’s been an intensive winter for WSR and Team BMW, but despite the 2020 season concluding a month later than we’re used to, we’ve still been able to work through a comprehensive development programme for the BMW 330i M Sport. We began our 2021 test programme at Silverstone last week and were pleased to see that most of the upgrades we’ve added to the car have had the desired effect. The new livery, created by Nick Moss Designs, looks fantastic and I can’t wait to see all three cars in formation when we continue our pre-season testing at Brands Hatch next week.”

Read the full article here.

Last year Sprint Power overcame the skills shortage crisis currently hampering UK engineering by expanding its team by 50% to include globally renowned technical experts in the fields of power electronics, powertrain electrification and battery management systems as well as advanced energy storage development.

The company will continue to boost its engineering teams this year with the aim of achieving another 50% headcount increase and, as a result, expanding its existing high-tech workshop and office in Birmingham.

Founder and CEO of Sprint Power, Richie Frost, said: “We are riding high on the momentum created within the business over the last 12 months and have grown into one of the leading electrification and electrical integration experts in the UK, thanks to a team of 60 highly-skilled engineers. We are ready to embark on the next stage of our journey – further growth and expansion into new markets. It’s a really exciting time to be part of the Sprint Power team.”

Last year, Sprint Power was announced as a technical partner to the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 hypercar, taking responsibility for designing, building and integrating the advanced electrical systems for the project.

The company has also won two grant-funded projects from the UK government, involving the development of wireless charging platforms for electric vehicles.

To help meet the changing market demands and customer requirements, Sprint Power has invested over £500,000 in upgrading its premises, adding an electronics lab with advanced testing equipment including climatic chambers, dynamic power supplies and dynamic load banks.

A lab car rig was designed and built in-house, helping engineers to rapidly prototype and validate electrical systems and circuits.

Read the full article here.

• All-new next-generation lightweight battery and e-powertrain system raises the bar for electric bike performance, efficiency and range
• Advanced cell module specification realises optimum balance between battery power and energy
• Industry-leading technology developed by WAE includes all-new battery management software and integrated vehicle control unit
• Rider benefits include more power for longer, outstanding performance regardless of battery charge, faster charging and optimised bike handling through enhanced frame position
• Project TE-1 is a unique collaboration between expert British design and engineering organisations; this announcement marks the successful completion of second of four development phases
• Media assets: http://bit.ly/WAE_Triumph_Phase2

 
The all-new battery powertrain developed by Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) for Triumph Motorcycles’ TE-1 project will set new standards for electric bike performance, with class-leading power, efficiency, charging time and range.

Wholly responsible for TE-1’s lightweight, ground breaking battery system, employing a holistic approach to development will allow riders to use more electric power for longer providing access to outstanding performance regardless of battery charge, alongside rapid charging times.

With styling sketches for the final TE-1 prototype unveiled alongside first images of the innovative advanced electric powertrain, more detail can be revealed on this pioneering project which has now reached the successful completion of phase 2 of its four-phase programme.  

Beginning in May 2019, TE-1 has been focused on developing specialist electric motorcycle technology and innovative integrated solutions, thanks to a unique collaboration between four leading British organisations, Triumph Motorcycles, Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Ltd, and WMG at the University of Warwick. Funding has been provided by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles via Innovate UK.

Paul McNamara, Technical Director at Williams Advanced Engineering, said: “WAE has a long history in powering a number of world-renowned electric vehicles, both on track and on the road. Alongside our partners, we are delighted to be playing a key role in this innovative project, setting new standards in electric performance on two wheels.”

Nick Bloor, Triumph CEO, said: “The completion of Phase 2, and the promising results achieved to date, provide an exciting glimpse of the potential electric future and showcase the talent and innovation of this unique British collaboration. This important project will provide one of the foundations for our future electric motorcycle strategy, which is ultimately focused on delivering what riders want from their Triumph; the perfect balance of performance, handling and real world usability, with genuine Triumph character.”

Williams Advanced Engineering has provided industry-leading lightweight battery design and integration capability, using its test and development facilities to deliver an innovative battery management system combined with vehicle control unit. At the start of the project, WAE identified appropriate cell technology and battery architecture to deliver the performance objectives set by the partners, namely the best balance between power and energy.

The battery has been developed to bring two class-leading benefits: the battery can deliver sustained power, matched to the consistent maximum power that the motor can give – whilst the battery can also charge at a faster rate.

WAE has also created innovative battery management software to ensure power is delivered in relationship to battery performance. The outcome of phase two for WAE includes a fully bench-tested battery with performance results that exceed any current technology in terms of power and energy density.

The all-new battery has peak power of 170kW and continuous power of 90kW, with a capacity of 15kWh. This enables the motorbike to deliver 130kW of peak power and 80kW of continuous power. Class leading system cooling combined with the optimum balance of power and energy means TE-1 can give the rider more electric power for longer and deliver outstanding performance regardless of battery charge. The 360-volt system also enables a fast-charging time of under 20mins (0-80%), which is combined with a market leading target range.

WAE has optimised the battery module layout to balance mass and positioning within the prototype chassis taking into consideration centre of gravity, space and relationship with the powertrain and charging approach. A new and bespoke vehicle control unit has been integrated into the battery pack to minimise weight and packaging.

Dyrr Ardash, Senior Commercial Manager at Williams Advanced Engineering, said: “Through this innovative project, we are delivering next-generation battery technology. The energy density of this new battery will be a significant step forward giving the rider more power, for longer. And whereas existing technology limits performance at low levels of charge, our lightweight, compact solution gives the rider all of the performance all of the time - regardless of battery charge. It also delivers  class leading range.

“Additionally, we have  pushed the limits of performance by balancing the battery for acceleration and range, with simulations modelled on track-based riding. In other words, as aggressive as possible. WAE has also designed and developed a bespoke electronic control unit combining the battery management system with the bike control functions in one package. A first for this market, this benefits packaging and integration whilst optimising performance and range. What’s more, we have also reduced mass and optimised frame position to benefit handling too.”

High performance battery expertise lies at the core of WAE. The company was the original supplier of batteries to the entire grid of FIA Formula E World Championship cars in 2014, a relationship that has been revived for 2022-23 season with WAE being awarded the exclusive contract to supply the Gen3 battery system. WAE also supplies battery systems to ETCR and Extreme-E.

Read the full article here.

Formula 1 cars will feature active aerodynamics from 2025 in a bid to make them more fuel-efficient.

Pat Symonds, the series’ chief technical officer, said that the technology will be introduced with the next set of engine regulations, which are due to bring cheaper, simpler and more efficient power units.

Reducing drag on straights is seen as a way of further reducing fuel use, with an active system restoring downforce for fast cornering speeds.

It could be achieved by using adjustable wings, DRS-style flaps or active suspension that changes the ride height.

“Sustainability is very much the byword of everything that we’re doing in motor sport at the moment,” Symonds told a Motorsport Industry Association conference on energy efficiency.

“You obviously you can’t reduce your fuel usage when you’ve got a drag coefficient of around one and similarly you can’t get similar performance unless you’ve got a lift coefficient of around four, four and a half.

“The only way you can really compromise is with active aerodynamics so, that is the way we are researching.”

The new-generation hybrid engines for 2025 are likely to use zero-carbon synthetic fuels, made from carbon dioxide captured from the air and combined with hydrogen using renewable energy,

They will have greater electrical assistance, which may be boosted by four-wheel energy recovery, potentially leading to the return of four-wheel drive to Formula 1.

Read the full article here.

APC have prepared the following article.

• The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) welcomes £54 million commitment across three innovative automotive projects in the latest round of R&D funding
• Investment in hydrogen fuel cells for buses, lightweight electric vehicle powertrains for heavy goods vehicles and motorsport technology built into high efficiency motors for cars and vans
• Transformational programmes across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales forecast to create and safeguard nearly 10,000 jobs

More than £54 million in combined government and industry funding has been committed to three innovative projects for cars, buses, heavy goods vehicles and vans across the UK, co-ordinated by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).

• In Northern Ireland, £11.2 million for the development and manufacture of low-cost hydrogen fuel cell bus technology and a hydrogen centre of excellence with Wrightbus in Ballymena, to further the development of hydrogen technology and drive product sales across the world.
• In Wales, lightweight electric powertrains for heavy goods vehicles will be developed in Cwmbran led by Meritor in a £31.9 million programme which will also see a new technology centre built in Scotland.
• In Warwickshire, £11.3 million has been committed through Shield Manufacturing Technologies to develop and manufacture an energy recovery system developed in motorsport and integrated with an e-axle and motor, to reduce energy use in cars and vans in a transformational project for the UK’s production of motors and inverters.

Ian Constance, Chief Executive at the APC said: ‘We are delighted to have guided the latest investment of more than £54 million in the development and production of innovative powertrains to further accelerate the transition of the automotive sector to a net-zero future. The funding will enable the UK to apply its world-class innovation and experience in electrification of vehicles across the supply chain in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

‘From fuel cell technology for buses, designed and built in Ballymena, a lightweight electric powertrain for commercial vehicles developed and manufactured in Wales and an integrated motor and energy recovery systems system for cars and vans based on motorsport technology in Warwickshire, today’s announcement secures and creates nearly 10,000 jobs and will cut CO2 emissions equivalent to removing the lifetime emissions of nearly 1.8 million cars.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK is leading the world by developing cutting edge technology that will help to tackle climate change and lead to a green, competitive future for our automotive supply chain.

“These projects will not only help accelerate the wider application of greener technology in lorries and buses, but will also help generate the high-skilled jobs to level up communities across the UK while ensuring we build back greener from the pandemic.”

This funding announcement builds on the recent launch of the Government’s national Bus Back Better strategy and the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, both of which aim to accelerate the shift to zero emission vehicles and decarbonise the UK’s transport networks.

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said: “As we look to reduce our carbon emissions, strive towards our net-zero goals and level up right across the UK, the whole transport sector will need to embrace new innovative technology such as green hydrogen and these projects are a fantastic example of doing just that.

“I’m proud to see the UK leading the way in the global transition to zero-emission vehicles. In the next decade, we’ll continue to be at the forefront of their design, manufacture and use as we build back greener.”

Projects to receive funding from the latest Advanced Propulsion Centre funding competition APC17 include:

Next Gen FCEV 

The UK is a global leader in bus design and manufacturing. Wrightbus in Ballymena is developing hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicle single and double-deck buses. This programme will enable higher volume production at lower cost and create a centre of excellence for zero emissions hydrogen technology to upskill and share knowledge in the UK.

Jo Bamford, Wrightbus Executive Chairman, said: “The funding will allow us to realise our ambitions of creating a centre of excellence for zero emission technology in Ballymena, enabling us to produce the next generation of world-leading hydrogen buses at a higher volume and a lower cost than ever before. 

“It will safeguard more than 1,000 skilled jobs and will allow us to create more than 3,000 additional jobs over the next 10 years, giving a significant boost to the wider economy in Northern Ireland.” 

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis said: “Northern Ireland and the local economy thrives on innovation, manufacturing and technological advancements, leading the charge in allowing us to reach our ambitious goal of a net zero future by 2050. 

“With a landmark investment of £11.2 million this will enable Wrightbus to become a centre of excellence for zero-emission technology in the heart of Ballymena.

“This is outstanding news for the people of Northern Ireland, protecting more than 1,000 skilled jobs and creating more than 3,000 additional jobs over the next 10 years. This will continue to level up our local economy, allowing Wrightbus to continue producing the next generation of world-leading hydrogen buses.”

EPIC (Electric Powertrain Integration for Heavy Commercial Vehicles) 

The next generation of zero emissions heavy commercial vehicles need lightweight ‘smart’ powertrains to manage extreme levels of electrical power. The EPIC project led by Meritor in Cwmbran integrates the key elements of motor, inverter, gearbox, differential and brakes in a single lightweight system for vehicles up to 44 tonnes and includes coaches, off-highway and construction vehicles.

John Bennett, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Meritor said: “With this award, our consortium will develop a game-changing electric powertrain for heavy-duty 4×2 and 6×2 vehicles up to 44 tonnes. This technology will provide commercial vehicle OEMs with the optimal solution to meet EU 2025 CO2 reduction targets, in addition to a host of other product benefits including greater efficiency, reduced weight, longer-range capability, and far greater application flexibility when compared to existing systems.’” 

Ken Hogan, Vice President, Truck, Europe, China, Japan and ASEAN Meritor said: “This grant will put Meritor’s highly-skilled Welsh-based engineering team at the forefront of advanced commercial vehicle technologies, positioning South East Wales as the premier location for companies developing clean transportation and technologies. Meritor’s existing air disc brake facility in Cwmbran will house a new European eMobility Centre of Excellence with expanded laboratory and R&D facilities.” 

Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart said: “As we work towards net zero by 2050, South Wales will be a hub of innovation and green technology as we transform the UK economy over the coming years.  

“The investment in electric propulsion systems in Cwmbran will create more than 1,000 skilled jobs. It follows recent UK Government backing for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence and to develop a net zero industrial zone across South Wales as we ensure that the region’s proud heritage is continued with the industries of the future.”

Read the full article here.

MIA members who participate at IBDLM 2021 receive 10% discount of the price mentioned in the brochure, please write the following code to receive this discount : IBDLeMans21theMIA

RULES OF ORIGIN REQUIREMENTS

The CBI, in partnership with the UK Mission to the EU, BEIS, DEFRA and HMRC, will host a webinar on Friday 19 March looking at the new rules of origin requirements contained within the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement and how they impact supply chains, distribution channels and customs requirements and procedures. Register here.

Rules of origin post-Brexit: guidance for business

Understand what the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) means for rules of origin and how to adjust your business operations to comply with the new rules.

New heat shield technology delivers a massive 35% improvement compared to conventional heat shield solutions, reducing heat transfer by almost a quarter and providing significant surface temperature reduction, with up to a 125oC reduction achieved during testing.

Automotive and motorsports heat management specialists Zircotec is launching a new heat shield solution, ZircoFlex® SHIELD which out-performs traditional products in weight, thermal performance and packaging space, depending on the needs of the user, according to a detailed research program carried out by the company.

This revolutionary patented technology comprises a traditional insulation core combined with Zircotec’s proprietary thermal barrier coatings. Whether the need is to improve performance, decrease weight, or save space, ZircoFlex® SHIELD delivers against all these criteria:

• At half the thickness of the next best heatshield from another manufacturer, ZircoFlex® SHIELD achieves a 35% improvement in heat shielding with as much as a 125oC reduction in surface temperature in exhausts.
• Or it secures the same performance of the next best competitor in almost half the volume.
• And the weight of the shield is reduced by up to 40%.

Zircotec are providing best in class solutions to OEMs, ranging from high performance vehicles through to off-highway, AgriTech and commercial vehicles.

ZircoFlex® SHIELD is the output of many years of development. Extensive real-world testing has been carried out on the engine of a four-cylinder British Touring car (350+bhp, 2L turbo) with many different exhaust pipes fitted with several of the industry leading insulation materials looking at varying levels of insulation.

The research and development program examined both detachable and integral heat shields at different engine speeds and loads, and simulated typical under-hood temperature conditions. The key area of interest was at high rpm and full load where heat flux is the highest. Exhaust gas temperatures (from 660 to 730oC) were measured entering and exiting the exhaust pipe, along with surface temperatures (from 116 to 695oC).

Measurements have shown conclusively that ZircoFlex® SHIELD has significantly better thermal performance at a lower weight (by 40%) and lower volume (by 46%). This will therefore enable engines to run more efficiently and the cars to travel significantly faster. It perfectly balances the requirements of thermal performance against weight and space.

Graeme Barette, sales director of Zircotec, said: “If you can retain more heat within the exhaust gases of a turbocharged engine; if you can shield the driver from heat while the engine idles in traffic jams; and if you can lower the temperature under the bonnet at a given engine speed – well then you are seriously increasing race performance and efficiency of on-road cars and off-highway commercial vehicles, such as in AgriTech. That’s what ZircoFlex® SHIELD delivers.

“Thermal protection is particularly important in electric vehicles, where batteries are very dependent on their environment. It is well documented that high and low temperatures can reduce the battery life expectancy and journey distance before re-charging is needed.

“This extended life and keeping more of the heat within the car has obvious environmental benefits, as well as driver comfort.”

The development of ZircoFlex® SHIELD is the result of years of investment in R&D, averaging £1m per year, culminating in a £2.5 million investment into much larger premises and new equipment last year.

Zircotec are experts in plasma-spray processing and thermal barrier solutions and develop and produce industry leading high-performance surface coatings and finishes. They work with most F1 teams and other leading OEMs, high-end supercar manufacturers and motorsport organisations incorporate its heat shielding.

The company has a strong presence in their existing specialist markets, namely automotive and motorsport, though they are now demonstrating the opportunities for sectors which to date has not been possible due to limitations in capacity. Industries such as the electric vehicle sector, oil and gas, marine, power generation and aerospace all present excellent opportunities.

These industries have stringent emissions targets and heat management requirements and Zircotec’s technology can provide a solution to manage heat, without adding excessive weight; key characteristics highly sought in these industries.

Zircotec offer a range of industry coatings with different performance characteristics, ideal for many different applications. This includes the plasma applied ceramic coatings, a flexible heat shield material, carbon composite coatings, anti-wear coatings and ceramic fabrications as well as heat shielding solutions.

The company have also developed a conductive ceramic battery coating that provides RFI shielding with a weight saving of up to 4kg per m2 compared to aluminum. This enables manufacturers to use carbon or plastic composite battery casings for hybrid and electric vehicles rather than the much heavier aluminum solution.

Read the article here.

- How have you managed 2020 and succeeded in doing motorsport during a pandemic

- How have you adapted to the new world we live in for 2021 and beyond?

- What is your feeling about the current motorsport and automotive market in asia?

Watch the video here

SpeedShare's service offering:

1. Support businesses wishing to develop in Asia

2. Support businesses expanding in North-America 

Industries of expertise:

1. Automotive & related industries (tires, parts)

2. Powersports, recreational products, performance

3. Motorsports

Marelli launches proprietary full SiC power module for electric and hybrid traction applications in motorsports

THE NEW TECHNOLOGY ENABLES CONVERSION EFFICIENCIES OF UP TO 99.5%, WITH SMALLER SIZE AND WEIGHT

Leading global automotive supplier, Marelli, has launched the first power module for motorsports electric and hybrid traction applications completely developed in the company’s Corbetta facility, fully based on Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology and using a new direct cooling solution. This leading-edge system will be the core building block for even more efficient, compact and lighter inverters.

The new module, called EDI (Enhanced Direct-cooling Inverter), was developed by Marelli Motorsport with the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM and features an innovative structural design that drastically reduces the thermal resistance between the SiC components themselves and the liquid coolant, thanks to a new baseplate-less solution. The result is an extremely compact power stage, which can exploit the efficiency advantage of Silicon Carbide, allowing vehicle designers more flexibility in packaging, cooling system design and minimized energy storage.

In comparison to a Silicon-based design of the same rating, the new technology enables conversion efficiencies of up to 99.5%, 50% reduction in weight and size and 50% higher heat dissipation into cooling system.

Over the last years, Silicon Carbide has proven to be a technology of choice for high voltage and high temperature power electronics devices such as inverters, being able to grant excellent performance in hybrid and full electric applications. The use of SiC Mosfet enables in fact smaller, lighter and more efficient solutions. These features become even more crucial when it comes to motorsports, where size, weight and efficiency are definitely major design drivers.

Produced in the clean room of Marelli Corbetta facility (Italy), the EDI power module has already successfully undergone a series of reliability qualification tests for motorsports mission profiles, to assess the robustness of the design when subjected to thermal cycles, switching tests, and pressure cycles.

This new significant achievement is a further step forward within Marelli ongoing commitment in the field of electric powertrain, which is focused on developments both for motorsport and road vehicles applications and can rely on the company’s combined expertise in electric drives and thermal energy management systems.

“Being at the forefront of motorsports technologies requires a continuous drive for innovation, also based on a constant research for the most efficient materials and solutions” said Riccardo De Filippi, Senior Vice President and CEO of Marelli Motorsport. “As Marelli Motorsport, our mission is to promote technological advancements that can first of all be decisive on racetracks, and at the same time enable next-generation technologies also for the road cars of tomorrow. Specifically, in the electric powertrain field, we can build on our strong experience as pioneers of cutting-edge solutions for F1 and Formula E, as well as early adopters of SiC technologies.”

How to improve your composite FEA process AND get manufacturing output as a side benefit

When working with laminated composites it is important to consider the effects that draping the pre-pregs has on the orientations and thickness that get used in finite element analysis. 

Laminate Modeller is a plug-in tool for MSC Patran that does this fundamental job, but offers so much more. 

One of the side benefits of the draping process is the automatic creation of flat patterns.  These give you the shape you need to cut out of a flat fabric in order to achieve the ply boundaries desired on your 3D product. 

To do this in CAD is often expensive – the plug-ins to do it, like Fibersim, can cost large 5 figure sums, completely out of the reach of SME companies.  Laminate Modeller doesn’t do 100% of the job these tools do, but it does offer 80% of the capability for 20% or less of the price.  

This video shows you how to use Laminate Modeller to build an accurate Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model in Patran, and also how to generate flat pattern DXF files, an HTML ply book and tooling surface geometry.

For more information visit the DTE website here.

• GB Snowsport Athletes, Sport Scientists and Engineering experts will apply ground-breaking motorsport derived techniques to Paralympic Snowsport preparations
• With one year to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games 2022 in Beijing, Williams Advanced Engineering and GB Snowsports have teamed up in support of the country’s quest for Paralympic success at the Games and across the 2021/22 winter season

With one year to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games 2022 in Beijing, GB Snowsport and Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) have teamed up in support of the country’s quest for Paralympic success at the Games and across the 2021/22 winter season.

Drawing on expert knowledge from WAE’s Sports and Human Performance Team, the partnership will see athletes and performance specialists from GB Snowsport’s elite programme work with product designers, engineers and performance specialists to boost the nation’s chance of success.

The partnership will bring learnings from WAE’s previous successes in supporting British Paralympic efforts at the Olympic Summer Games in 2016, and will be supported by industry-leading expertise from Coventry University, BAE Systems and Formaplex.

Vicky Gosling, GB Snowsport Chief Executive, said: “We are committed to working with our incredible Paralympic athletes to ensure they have the best chance of success at competitions throughout the season but also as they head into the Paralympic Winter Games. By working with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) we are gaining access to some of the country’s leading experts in engineering and performance, each of whom will play an important role in achieving the levels of success we expect to see across the next 12 months and at the Paralympic Games next March.”

Paul McNamara, Technical Director at Williams Advanced Engineering, added: “We are delighted to be involved in this project and using our experience in design and manufacture, to support some of the country’s leading athletes in their preparations for next year’s Paralympic Winter Games. In just a few months we have already seen exciting progress, and we look forward to seeing this translate into positive gains over the next 12 months.”

The outcomes of the partnership are expected to be in-place by the end of this year to support athletes across the full 2021/22 season and into the XIII Paralympic Winter Games, which get underway in Beijing on Friday 4 March 2022.

Read the full article here.

"Yesterday the Government has delivered an optimistic vision for the future of the British economy, providing certainty on the back of wide-ranging measures that build on our extensive support for workers and businesses across the UK at this difficult and unprecedented time".

“The Budget delivers on our commitment to support businesses through the pandemic and level up every corner of the UK, supporting jobs through the extension of the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, as well as the continuation of business rate holidays and VAT cuts for disrupted businesses and the new ‘Help to Grow’ scheme to help 130,000 small and medium businesses build back better.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, presented his Budget to Parliament on Wednesday 3 March 2021. The three-point plan to protect jobs and strengthen public finances announced:

Measures announced in the Budget include:

• An extension of the UK-wide Self Employment Income Support scheme to September 2021, with 600,000 more people who filed a tax return in 2019-20 now able to claim for the first time.

• Extension to the VAT cut to 5%, for hospitality, accommodation and attractions across the UK until the end of September, followed by a 12.5% rate for a further six months until 31 March 2022.

• Small and medium-sized employers in the UK will continue to be able to reclaim up to two weeks of eligible Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) costs per employee from the Government.

The UK Government will continue to pay 80% of employees’ usual wages for the hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,500 per month, up to the end of June 2021.

For periods in July, CJRS grants will cover 70% of employees’ usual wages for the hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,187.50. In August and September, this will then reduce to 60% of employees’ usual wages up to a cap of £1,875.

You will need to continue to pay your furloughed employees at least 80% of their usual wages for the hours they do not work during this time, up to a cap of £2,500 per month. This means, for periods between July and September, you will need to fund the difference between this and the CJRS grants yourself. You can also top up wages above the 80% if you wish, but you are not required to do so.

You must continue to pay the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions on subsidised furlough pay from your own funds.

CJRS eligibility from May

For periods from 1 May 2021 onwards, you will be able to claim for eligible employees who were employed by you and on your PAYE payroll on 2 March 2021. This means you must have made a PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) submission to HMRC between 20 March 2020 and 2 March 2021, notifying us of earnings for that employee.

You and your employees do not need to have benefitted from the scheme before to make a claim, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

For more information on the extension to the scheme and the support available, search 'Job Retention Scheme' on GOV.UK.