The FIA has launched a new entry level touring car platform that will share technical regulations with rallying, providing a ‘cost-effective’ solution towards the base of the motorsport pyramid. TC Lite will consist of two tiers – TCL4 and TCL5 – whose cars will be built to the same parameters as existing Rally4 and Rally5 machinery. This could open the door for manufacturers to build one car that that is easily adaptable for both circuit and rallying applications, saving on the need for separate development programmes. Current Rally4 cars include the Peugeot 208, Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa and R ..read more

The earth-shaking roar of V8 engines is one of NASCAR’s defining traits and that is set to remain a key part of the series in the coming years. However, the American series is also looking to accelerate its decarbonisation efforts, which is why it launched a 1000kW electric demonstrator car during last weekend’s Cup Series round in Chicago. The ABB NASCAR EV Prototype has been developed under a new partnership between NASCAR and ABB, the Swedish-Swiss electrical equipment company that is also title sponsor of the FIA Formula E World Championship. The all-wheel-drive demonstrator was developed ..read more

Inside the Racecar Engineering August 2024 issue:   How Le Mans was won Formula 1 2026 chassis regulations LMP2 rules reset explained Keeping a pre-war racecar on track Lamborghini’s forgotten GT1 racer The present and future of dyno testing …and much more! Subscribe here today / Single issue How Le Mans was won: Formula 1’s new chassis regulations: Keeping a pre-war racecar on track: The post Racecar Engineering August 2024 Issue Out Now appeared first on Racecar Engineering ..read more

Sponsored Content Student-run Team NMA opened its GT Cup Championship campaign at Donington Park in April, securing four podiums and two wins, including an overall victory. These triumphs represented the culmination of an almost five-year journey, rebuilding and evolving the Lotus Evora GTE that first raced in the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans. Like many journeys in motorsport, this one had the highest highs and the lowest lows. Here, you will discover how the National Motorsport Academy breathed new life into the Lotus Evora, transforming it from a past Le Mans competitor to a modern-day race winn ..read more

Audi has given an update on the development of its new Formula 1 power unit that will debut at the start of the next technical regulations cycle in 2026. In a Q&A session, the chief executive and chief technology officer at Audi Formula Racing go through the bench testing that has been completed so far and what’s to come. The German manufacturer is joining F1 in 2026 under a new technical regulations cycle, which includes refreshed hybrid power unit rules. The 1.6-litre V6 internal combustion engine has been retained, but the MGU-H has been dropped and the MGU-K has been uprated to produce ..read more

Extreme H has launched its ‘purpose-built’ hydrogen racecar, the Pioneer 25, ahead of the FIA-sanctioned championship’s first season next year. The Pioneer 25 has been designed and built by Spark Racing Technology, the French company that also manufactures cars for the FIA Formula E World Championship. Extreme H will replace the all-electric Extreme E series in 2025. The championship and Spark took the opportunity of that transition develop a new car based around a hydrogen fuel cell stack from Symbio that will generate electric power to propel the vehicle over rough terrain. The 75kWM hydroge ..read more

What was the first car you ever drove? What car will you be driving in 2030? Will people still drive cars in 2050? ‘The last car built on Earth will surely be a sports car’ is a quote attributed to Ferry Porsche, the renowned automobile designer. If you had the opportunity to design a car, what features would it possess and what would it look like? Where would you drive it and who would you want to take with you? At the University of Bath, we’ve designed our suite of automotive MSc courses to help a new generation of professionals tackle some of the worldwide environmental and societal challen ..read more

Each day, employees entering Xtrac’s design office pass a wall-mounted layout drawing for the company’s first racecar transmission. The G4 gearbox was developed by former Hewland engineer, Mike Endean, for rallycross star Martin Schanche’s four-wheel-drive Ford Escort. The plan serves as a reminder of where Xtrac started, and how much it has grown in the 40 years since. Now entering its fifth decade, the British transmission manufacturer has an increasing staff count of almost 500 employees, two build shops in the United States and several long-term supply deals for major series. It currently ..read more

Torque sensors are becoming increasingly common at the highest levels of motorsport, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans which takes place this weekend. Mounted on the driveshaft, these devices measure torque and generate information on power output and energy usage, helping series organisers to keep tabs on car performance. Le Mans requires each vehicle in the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes to be fitted with a torque sensor. The sensor relays data to the the FIA which collects and monitors it, and then investigates cases where the numbers exceed what has been allowed in the Balance of Performance ..read more

The biggest change to the 24 Hours of Le Mans grid this year is the arrival of LMGT3, which has supplanted GTE as the event’s production-based class. Aside from boosting car manufacturer numbers from four to nine, the introduction of GT3 machinery has brought some differences in how the race will likely run, as well as retaining some similarities. We look at the key battlegrounds. To the layperson, GT3 and GTE cars may look very similar, if not the same. But the former has traction control and anti-lock braking, plus more weight and slower lap times by around four seconds at the Circuit de la ..read more