G&W Invests £5 million in machining capacity

Grainger & Worrall (G&W), which provides engine casting to Porsche, Aston Martin, Bugatti and McLaren, is to open a state-of-the-art, £5 million machining facility at its site in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

Car exports to China rise five-fold

Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that exports of cars to China from the UK have increased five-fold since 2009.

Ricardo moves into vehicle composites

Ricardo plc has teamed with US aerospace composite supplier Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) to provide composite body, chassis and other structural components to the automotive industry.

Automakers are incorporating a variety of new and advanced materials to reduce the weight of vehicle structures and components as they work to reduce carbon emissions and improve passenger safety. 

Ford lifts the veil on 2016 GT supercar

Ford Motor Company has unveiled the edgy GT supercar the automaker plans to build next year.

Ricardo pushes out with US Maglev project

Ricardo is participating in a strategic partnership led by Florida EMMI to deliver the first commercial Maglev rail project in North America.

Not only is Ricardo expanding its boundaries in the direction of Maglev, it has just won an order from UTC Aerospace Systems to manufacture complex components used in the flap actuation system of Airbus A320 aircraft.

Ricardo to power McLaren to 2020

Ricardo plc of Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, has won a contract to supply engines for its supercars in a contract worth £40 million a year.

The deal will allow Ricardo to continue building the engines for the P1 and the 12C spider as well as the McLaren GT.

Mike Flewitt, chief executive of McLaren Automotive said “Ricardo is a leading name in the development and assembly of world-beating engines, pushing the boundaries of performance and efficiency, and sharing the core values and objectives of McLaren.”

Honda engines to return to F1

Honda Motor Company will make a return to Formula 1 in 2015. It will provide engines for the McLaren team.

The Japanese company, which quit the sport in 2009 after years of poor results with its own team, is reigniting one of the most successful partnerships in F1 history.

The move to feature turbo engines and extensive energy recovery technology from 2014 is behind Honda's re-think.

Honda claims that F1 regulation changes have been "central" to its participation. And joining with McLaren is a 'cheaper option' than funding an entire race team.

A senior Honda executive explained: "Honda has a long history of advancing our technologies and nurturing our people by participating in the world's most prestigious automobile racing series.

"The new F1 regulations with their significant environmental focus will inspire even greater development of our own advanced technologies," he added.

It will be recalled that Honda and McLaren dominated F1 from 1988 to 1991 by winning four consecutive world drivers' titles with Ayrton Senna in 1988, 1990 and 1991 and Alain Prost in 1989.

Between them, they produced the most successful year in F1 history, winning 15 of the 16 races in 1988.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh described the new partnership as "a new and exciting chapter" in his team's history. No doubt, however, Ron  Dennis, McLaren's supremo, had a hand to play in this development.

Whitmarsh added: "The names of McLaren and Honda are synonymous with success in Formula 1, and, for everyone who works for both companies, the weight of our past achievements together lies heavily on our shoulders. But it's a mark of the ambition and resolve we both share that we want once again to take McLaren-Honda to the very pinnacle of Formula 1 success. Together we have a great legacy - and we're utterly committed to maintaining it."

McLaren will continue with current engine supplier Mercedes in 2014, but, with Honda waiting in the wings, it will undoubtedly be a slightly uncomfortable relationship. Meanwhile, Mercedes will also be keen to ensure that Honda has no access to its engine technology.

McLaren driver Jenson Button raced for Honda's factory team in F1 from 2006-8, winning the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix but enjoying very little other success. The Englishman, who won the 2009 world championship for the team after it was renamed Brawn following Honda's pull-out at the end of 2008, said he was "thrilled and excited" about Honda's return, describing it as "a great development for Formula 1 fans and the sport as a whole".

McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale said Honda would be prepared to supply other teams if required to do so, as specified in the F1 rules.

F1 engine regulations  

Engine: 1.6-litre, V6s, with single turbo. Engines can rev to 15,000rev/min, five power units per season per driver (each engine does 4,000km). 15% fewer moving parts

Turbo: Size unlimited, maximum revs 125,000rpm

Energy recovery (Ers) system: 161bhp for 33.3 seconds a lap

Fuel limit: No more than 100kg (about 140 litres) of fuel in a race; max fuel-flow rate of 100kg per hour. This is a 30% increase in fuel efficiency

Thermal efficiency: 40% (target)

The new F1 engine regulations have come in for criticism from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who believes they are unnecessary, and smaller teams are concerned about the up-front costs of the engines.

These are significantly higher next year than they are at the moment, although the manufacturers have all promised to ensure costs come down over a five-year period so that they even out in the end.

Neale noted: "Clearly F1 has to be cost-conscious but I think we have to also recognise that F1 cannot sit still. If it's going to be a technology showcase and contemporary with its markets, then embracing technology and making sure we are energy efficient is ensuring it stays healthy for the long run.

So I'm sure there will be short-term pain, but I'm also sure that these technology steps are long-term the right way to go."

It is claimed the engine rules were changed to make F1 more relevant to the road-car industry, and with the hope of attracting more manufacturers back into the sport. The new regulations could lead to engine turbocompounding, a concept that Mercedes-Benz has seriously considered and has plans to adopt .

Honda's return appears to be a vindication, and there are rumours other companies are considering entering the sport also. Toyota, Hyundai, VW/Audi and Ford have been mentioned.                       ∎