—hybrid, or difficult to track; in EV racing it can be downright dizzying. ELECTRIC POWERdedicated— Which is why we’ve put together a list of seven key markers, has arrived with a vengeance for those who embrace not with help from our expert sources, that are noteworthy for their just winning, but also integrating on a level of widespread impact on the segment…and its future. responsible social consciousness. Indeed, that silent “whoosh” of the battery-reliant race car is 1 Toyota Hybrid Named “Race Car Of The Year” no longer preposterous for a reliable performance powertrain, The 2016 “Race Car of the Year” accolade from Professional as belief is building that electric motors have power potential World Awards flowed from motorsport tech authorities to rival, or surpass, gas engines in . and auto journalists to salute Toyota Gazoo Racing’s race- After all, speed remains the bottom line. And electric winning TS050 hybrid. vehicles (EV), lest we forget, can accelerate from 0–60 mph A jolting signal of battery-supported recognition for the TS050 in one second. Just ask John Metric of the National Electric hybrid not only short-circuited piston-powered rivals, but also Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) in Muskegon, Michigan, served as a wake-up call of sorts that many a budget—OEM about his cracked sternum that testifies to the car’s brutal and race—were reshuffling to embrace the current trend and boost. “The radio control race car kid generation has grown expanding segment. up,” he observed. “The sound of a high-winding electric “The power and grip of the TS050 hybrid is incredible,” motor is the sound of efficient, high-torque acceleration. Our remarked Gazoo team driver José María López. “The hybrid production class welcomes Tesla, Nissan and Zero, while technology is impressive.” the conversion vehicles include Black Zombie, and Michel The team has since expanded its driver lineup for the 2017 Bertrand’s tri-motor Porsche Carrera. FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) to campaign a “In our dragster class,” he continued, “you will find Bothell three-car TS050 stable. High School’s ‘Shock and Awe’ where ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat 37 is the current quarter-mile record holder. We 2 Audi Redirects Path To also offer motorcycle classes where our first 200 mph record The OEM announced late last year that 2016 would be its final was set by Larry ‘Spiderman’ McBride.” season in sports car racing, signaling an end to its participation In racing circles, the pace of new development is oftentimes in the WEC, including the , as it instead

54 Performance Racing Industry | June 2017 Photo courtesy of Audi Motorsport DESIGN ENGINEERING INC. KEEPKEEP FUELFUEL COOL!COOL! NO MORE USING BLANKETS TO COVER FUEL CANS NO MORE MOVING FUEL CANS IN & OUT OF THE SHADE FUEL CAN COVERS Keeps fuel cool & stable Recommended by race fuel manufacturers Easy slip on/off

Dealer & Distributor Inquiries Welcome 800-264-9472 Photo courtey of JEGS DesignEngineering.com

June 2017 | www.performanceracing.com 55 redirects serious resources into the all- E holds its races on city streets, and electric UK-based FIA Formula E racing directly in front of fans, this rapidly series ahead of plans to offer electric evolving category is stoking new production models starting in 2018. popularity. “They witness how exciting To be sure, Audi management sees the and dynamic electric mobility can be,” E series as “the greatest potential for the he explained. “This platform is very well future,” and there is also talk of electrifying received by sponsors, manufacturers its cars. and many suppliers, and all have “On the road to a fully factory- the opportunity to demonstrate their backed commitment, Audi is using the competence in one of the most important 2017 season to learn more about the future areas.” world’s first fully electric racing series,” After Audi announced that 2016 would be its final said Stefan Moser, Head of Audi AG season in sports car racing, the OEM redirected 3 Fueling Technology Transfer Communications Motorsport, in Ingolstadt, its resources into the all-electric UK-based FIA It’s safe to say that the passenger car Germany, pointing out that the automaker Formula E, ahead of plans to offer electric pro- market is driving electric race car product is responsible for numerous motorsports duction models starting in 2018. Photo courtesy innovation. Racers and automakers have of Audi Motorsport. history bright marks, and intends to be a a symbiotic desire to gain the edge in disruptive force in electric racing. standards in circuit racing, and Audi was the advancement of motors, batteries, “Audi has consistently been using the first manufacturer to achieve victories safety, cooling systems, fire prevention motorsport to test and develop new with a turbocharged fuel stratified injection and weight reduction. One for glory, the technologies further for subsequent use (TFSI) engine, turbocharged direct other for sales. in production,” he continued. “Quattro injection (TDI) and a hybrid race car.” Audi’s Moser said, “It has long been drive revolutionized rally racing [and] set Moser concluded that because Formula an Audi tradition that motorsport is not

56 Performance Racing Industry | June 2017 Toyota received widespread recognition last year that the E Championship was designed to for its TS050 hybrid vehicle that races in the FIA serve as a primary platform for companies World Endurance Championship (WEC). In fact, it was named the 2016 “Race Car of the Year,” and manufacturers to develop alternative and the team has since expanded its WEC driver energy solutions, and showcase improved lineup, now campaigning a three-car stable of performance and efficiency that will filter TS050 hybrids. down to electric road vehicles. among prominent road car manufacturers. Mallinson points to a pair of electric “Something was missing to make concept cars doing just that: borrowing motorsport relevant to what is happening from Formula E cars. Aston Martin’s on the streets, the roads of our cities and RapidE integrates the same battery our countries—the revolution,” technology from Williams Advanced revealed Sam Mallinson. “We are facing Engineering, and Renault’s Trezor uses a big change in the industry. We want to its championship-winning powertrain. accelerate change to play a role in one of “Pure electric racing is relevant to the run purely for marketing reasons, but the biggest challenges that we face: city future of energy and transport because to drive technical developments and pollution, and the even bigger challenge it will push the cars, the charging and innovations that will benefit the customers. of global warming. energy delivery technologies as part of In Formula E, this will affect all of the areas Now in its third season, the series our races,” said Mark Gemmell, CEO of mentioned: motor, battery, cooling, weight, consists of 12 rounds, with visits to Hong Electric GT (EGT) Championship, based but above all, efficiency.” Kong, Marrakesh, Buenos Aires, Mexico at Circuit Pau-Arnos in . At its core, the Formula E Championship City, Monaco, New York City, and several is an electric-cars, perception-changing other street venues. 4 Adding EV Classes, Series platform aimed at attracting participation As the series matures, the fact remains An electric class was added to this

June 2017 | www.performanceracing.com 57 year’s all-women, 1500-mile, off-road plugs for temporary charging conditions Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc in France, Spain, Morocco, on the boat, that attracts racers from more than 30 on generator,” explained Larhrissi. different countries. Held in the Moroccan “We monitored charging speed, battery desert this past March, the “E-Gazelle” autonomy in different environments, class was aided by Solutions-VE by temperature, capacity of the vehicle, and providing a Citröen E-Mehari participating other parameters.” as an “unranked” team to investigate Larhrissi continued, “One special performance and capabilities under technological development from AR Auto the extreme conditions that will help was an adaptor that minimized the load on organizers go from “test mules” to generators when the car is being charged competition race cars. while maintaining energy efficiency. This An electric class was added to this year’s all- women, 1500-mile, off-road Rallye Aïcha des Skilled race strategists from 11 previous same adaptor is used to back up for the Gazelles du Maroc held in the Moroccan desert rallies, Nezha Larhrissi, from Rabat, poor quality and unstable electric ground in March. During the event, organizers of the Morocco, and Pilar Cabellos, who lives in remote areas of the desert.” “E-Gazelle” class were assisted by race strate- in Lancieux-Bretagne, France, assisted Meantime, Brian Gale, CEO and gists to develop a registry of requirements for a organizers in developing a registry of founder of Denver, Colorado-based full class launch in 2018. requirements for a full class 2018 launch. Speedleague, believes electric power is think more creatively about venues. “The Mehari was race hardened by particularly well suited to the rallycross My intention with E/RACING is to use adding an undercarriage protective plate, format of short-course racing. “Noise new technologies to revive our original and received a variety of new charging pollution and emissions can be a X Games rally car racing concept in cable adaptors for different electricity prohibiting factor,” he said. “Electric downtown areas, stadiums, beaches, sources during the race, and additional power provides us with the ability to deserts, snowy mountainsides, etc.”

58 Performance Racing Industry | June 2017 In fact, E/RACING will hold a new and energy forum, is a conference arena EV racing crowd would not sit and watch electric rallycross series beginning in for deeper discussions and analysis as a three-hour road course race unless it late October in Las Vegas, Nevada, with to our new energy future that also allows included new extreme technology.” additional events planned in Los Angeles, sponsors and partners to show their White pointed to last year’s EvGrand California, and New York City. products and services in renewable Prix, a collegiate-level EV karting event energy generation, storage and delivery,” where eight different battery chemistries 5 Running “Festivals For Our Gemmell added. were employed, using AC and DC Electric Future” powertrains, proving that competition is Gemmell believes the future for all kinds 6 Curating A New Generation a great test bed for the latest technology of transport (except for space flight) is Of Race Teams, Fans on a very inexpensive stage. 100 percent electric. “Motorsport has Danny J. White, Director of Motorsports “The Millennials and Generation Z are always exposed the leading edge in at Purdue University in West Lafayette, taking ownership of these new EV series,” technology and pushed it to its limits.” Indiana, recognizes the newer generation White continued. “This motorsports Scheduled to begin in November, the of race fan is far different than past demographic has told me, ‘We can bring EGT Championship will consist of 20 devotees. “Many more are technology our children, there is little to no noise, no drivers who will compete for 10 teams and innovation enthusiasts, have a bit of terrible smell,’ making it family friendly.” in identical race cars. passion for motorsports, as well as have a White believes that both the new fan The season opener is set for November great competitive spirit for extreme sports base of EV and “green” racing, coupled 25–26 at Paul Ricard in France, followed entertainment,” he explained. with the extremely rapid development by visits to tracks in Portugal, Italy, “Their up-and-coming transportation of new technology in this area, will soon Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, world already includes hybrids, EVs propagate batteries with a much longer United Kingdom and Spain. (electric vehicles) and autonomous range at a much lower cost. “Our Electric GT technology showcase, vehicles,” he continued. “Many in this new “Most of our collegiate EvGrand Prix

June 2017 | www.performanceracing.com 59 teams are involved in various research the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Assen in the Netherlands. However, areas,” White explained. “All teams are helps the EV manufacturers connect with a challenge they faced while trying to involved in changing the perception bright students on race day. improve the speed and acceleration of alternative fuels vehicles, and the Another university program is involved of the car was to reconfigure system current light-weighting of our automotive with hydrogen electric racing. Every components to reduce space and weight. structures to achieve much better mpg. year since 2007, about 50 students, So, they turned to the growing field of 3D “The battery and mostly from TU Delft (Delft University of printing for help. manufacturers are looking for talent Technology) in the Netherlands, design During the design process, a humidifier among this new EV racing-passionate and build a zero-emission racing vehicle. unit was repositioned in the car, which required a new moisture inlet manifold. “Many new offerings will The team initially considered using aluminum, but because its intricate shape continue to make EV a relevant required it to fit in a very confined position, market for motorsports.” aluminum didn’t offer enough accuracy or flexibility. Sjoerd van Empelen, one of generation,” he continued. “These events The team’s first vehicle, Forze I, reached the fuel cell chiefs at Forze Hydrogen create a unique type of high-demand a top speed of 90 km/h and acceleration Electric Racing, explained, “We needed talent for the alternative fuels engineering of 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. However, an alternative solution and 3D printing teams of many Fortune 500 companies.” the current Forze VII, was designed to offered the best way of producing the part White’s teams are made up of the achieve 210 km/h and travel from 0 to to exact specifications with a material that EV race engineers, EV automotive 100 km/h in only four seconds. was strong and heat resistant.” engineers, and EV technologists of The team’s goal is to enter Forze VII into Forze used Somos ProtoTherm 12120, tomorrow. And, Purdue’s race event at the Supercar Challenge at the TT Circuit a 3D printing material designed for

60 Performance Racing Industry | June 2017 automotive and aerospace applications. For Purdue’s White, it’s a toss-up Printing the part took only 20 hours, and between energy storage and electric due to the high quality surface, a limited motor driveline innovation. “The largest amount of finishing was needed. ‘bottleneck’ in electric vehicles is the battery packs,” he explained. 7 Fast-Tracking Innovation “Our seven-year-old Collegiate EvGrand Speedleague ultimately wants to bring Prix first swapped out two battery packs electrics to street circuits, rally sprints, in less than 10 seconds before the kart and endurance racing. “The ability to was back on track,” White continued. easily adjust power up and down for the “But for the past two years, we now only various situations, and only changing swap one pack as battery technology has some bodywork and suspension settings, reduced cell and pack size, but improved The EvGrand Prix, which is a collegiate-level means no engine swaps or dealing with EV karting event operated by Purdue University longer range.” remapping,” Gale declared. and held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, White theorizes that multiple-pack pit And NEDRA’s Metric noted, “There have showcases “green” racing, where eight different stops, and multiple-hour races, will put been a lot of $15 to $300 little inventions battery chemistries are employed using AC and recharging into play for winning equations. that have changed the aftermarket parts DC powertrains. “In this niche, on the fly or rapid-wireless world,” pointing to Amphenol RADLOK about 10 percent per year. We have run recharging of packs—in or out of the car— connectors and GIGAVAC contactors. a 300-pound battery pack for six years, will play a much larger role moving forward “Brushless motors, known as BLDC, and the horsepower rating has gone from together with weight reductions. Lightening seem to be surging,” he continued. “High 600 to 1000 to 1400. We are now building the battery packs, and the electric torque, no sparks and less maintenance. a 2000-horsepower pack for a street-legal motors with lightweight components will Batteries keep improving at a rate of car to do 335 mph from a standing start.” be critical,” he said. z

PROVEN!

June 2017 | www.performanceracing.com 61