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New Transmission for F1 Cars
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 on 06 June, 2007 07:00:00
 
Torotrak and Xtrac transmission expertise will help F1 teams develop new, highly
efficient, mechanical kinetic energy recovery systems ... technology also
applicable to road cars.
Toroidal traction drive specialist Torotrak plc and vehicle transmission design
and manufacturing company Xtrac Ltd are pleased to announce that on 4 June 2007
they entered into a licence agreement to enable Xtrac to develop highly
efficient and compact continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) for use in the
new kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) proposed for Formula One ("F1") motor
racing.
In 2009, F1 is introducing new rules that will lower the environmental impact
of the sport. Part of this is to recover deceleration energy that can be stored
for acceleration. Xtrac will exploit Torotrak's full-toroidal traction drive
technology for use in kinetic energy recovery systems within the motorsport
industry, to assist its customers in meeting these new obligations.
Commenting on the co-operation between the two companies, Peter Digby, managing
director of Xtrac, said: "The transfer of world-class transmission technology
from Torotrak, combined with the added value of Xtrac's expertise in the design
and manufacture of transmissions for motorsport - and with clear potential to
feed the resulting technical solution back into mainstream automotive use - is
a good example of what I believe FIA President Max Mosley had in mind when he
announced that Formula One should embrace an energy efficient future and open
up the world of motorsport to new manufacturers".
Dick Elsy, Chief Executive at Torotrak, added: "We are delighted to be working
with Xtrac on this exciting new application of our transmission technology, to
provide a highly efficient KERS solution for initial application in motorsport,
but with a clear opportunity to apply the system in mainstream road cars to
provide performance, economy and greenhouse gas emission benefits."
[Source: Torotrak]