Everyday drivers benefit from race technology

By George Kennedy

July 9, 2012

3 minutes to read

Auto racing is not for everyone. For some, the idea of watching twodozen cars traverse the same oval track for several hours may conjure up the worst traffic-related memories. For others, it has ascended to near-religion status. A dispute between the merits of the open wheel racing and NASCAR has the potential to end violently. Nevertheless, all drivers benefit from the advancements made in motorsport, even if they are indifferent to racing. As Soichiro Honda once said, “Racing improves the breed.’’

Here’s how it’s done so with certain technologies.

Turbochargers: Though used in aircraft engines for decades, the turbocharger first took hold in auto racing when Renault introduced a turbocharged V6 capable of making 1,500 horsepower for the 1977 Formula 1 season.

Turbocharging was eventually banned from Formula 1, but not before catching the attention of automakers, with the oil embargo fresh in their memories. Turbochargers are employed to maximize fuel economy and power in small-displacement motors as well as in performance-oriented cars like the 300-horsepower BMW 335i. Other cars that employ turbocharging are the fuel-efficient Chevrolet Cruze ECO, and the Ford F-150 EcoBoost, whose twin-turbo V6 is one of its most popular engines.

Tap-Shift Automatics/Direct-Shift Transmissions: Though diehard enthusiasts prefer the 6-speed manual, the automatic transmissions have caught up to the skills of even the most established drivers. For years, Formula 1 has been using semi-automatic, or directshift, gearboxes, which function as a manual but without the clutch pedal. In Formula 1 racing, it makes precise shifts faster than can any human being.

On the road, these tap-shifters are more than just a way to make us feel like a racecar driver. Many of the latest transmissions are programmed for optimal fuel economy, resulting in delayed acceleration when needed. The way around that is to play “choose-yourown- adventure’’ with the transmission to get up to speed using your own knowledge of power bands and shift points.

Regenerative Braking: The Kinetic Energy Recovery System (or KERS) is found in F1 racing and has been gaining traction in other race series. KERS stores energy from braking as kinetic energy, either in the form of a flywheel or supercapacitor. When enough power is captured, the driver can use the energy by pressing a button on the steering wheel. The driver is able to rocket past the competition using the same technology as is found in a Toyota Prius. This technology helped an Audi hybrid win the 2012 Twenty-Four Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

In hybrid road cars, regenerative braking is a key component to the fuel saving equation. In fact, most hybrids have better city fuel economy due to the energy captured in stopand- go driving. Non-hybrids use regenerative braking in various methods to save fuel. For example, the BMW 335i employs start/stop technology that shuts off the engine when the car is at rest. It is part of a fuel-saving initiative by BMW called “EfficientDynamics.’’ While the engine is shut off, accessory and climate control systems are powered with electricity developed from regenerative braking.

Lightweight Materials and Aerodynamics: Colin Chapman founded the Lotus car brand on the motto, “simplify, then add lightness.’’ In varying forms, it has been the guiding principal for all of motorsport. All of the aforementioned technologies are ineffective if the vehicle is not light and aerodynamic. To that end, carbon fiber is the de facto material for body panels in auto racing. A carbon fiber racecar shell is strong enough to withstand horrendous crashes, yet is light enough that an average person could pick up an entire F1 body with one hand. BMW has seen the potential of the extremely hard, extremely light material, and has purchased a stake in carbon fiber manufacturer GSL Carbon SE.

Both performance vehicles and fuel efficient hybrids derive much of their success from body designs that are highly aerodynamic. In fact, the Toyota Prius hybrid and Nissan GT-R supercar share the same drag coefficient (0.26), which speaks volumes to the shared benefit of aerodynamics.

Auto racing has proven the merits of these features, and as such, they have been grafted onto the consumer car industry in a variety of ways. Democratizing exotic materials like carbon fiber is one key to meeting everincreasing fuel economy standards. It may allow an F1 car to set the best qualifying time, but for the average consumer, it means a few more miles from of a single tank of gas. You don’t have to be a fan of auto racing, or even know it exists, to benefit from the advancements made in motorsport.