“While we have been working
on this state-of-the-art project for three years, this will be the first
support for rallying that we have been able to announce since our work on the
Ford WRC Focus in 2010 claims Ricardo Performance Products managing director
Mark Barge.
The new all-wheel-drive transmissions is
the result of an intensive development programme between the transmission
specialist and a leading international automaker is the first of “many products”
that will again see Ricardo plc supporting leading world rally teams.
The new
transmission is a sequential five-speed unit with ratio’s optimized for gravel
and asphalt, offering a class-leading balance of robustness and package, while
achieving the FIA requirements of the R5 championships for which it is
intended. In close collaboration with the client’s rally team, the complete
driveline system has been designed and developed by Ricardo at its Leamington,
UK facility, including an extensive programme of physical testing on the company’s
in-house test facilities.
The
transmission and driveline that has now been delivered is the first of a series
that will be supplied to this particular client to support its event activities
in the 2016 season – and it will be followed also by Ricardo-designed and
developed driveline products for other automakers competing in other forms of
rallying.
“The fact
that this is the first of two major programmes for the forthcoming season – in
addition to many component supply contracts – means our announcement undeniably
marks the public return of Ricardo to the very top level of rally based
motorsport,” concluded Barge.
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