Ricardo and Swift join forces to supply Formula Nippon

It has been announced that Ricardo UK Ltd will be the exclusive supplier of transmissions to Swift Engineering, Inc. of California, for the new chassis that will see action starting in the 2009 season of Formula Nippon, Japan’s premier open wheel series.

This contract award builds on the established reputation of Ricardo as transmission, driveline and engine technology supplier to the highest levels of international competitive motorsport. The company already supplies transmissions for Japan’s Super GT series as well as single make series including the World Series by Renault and Indy Pro Series. Moreover in May 2007 the FIA announced the appointment of Ricardo to provide technical support and advice on the development of future regulations for the Formula One World Championship. Work has already commenced on the design and development of the transmission for the future Formula Nippon chassis and the first Ricardo transmissions for the Swift 017.n are due to be delivered in June 2008.

“Formula Nippon is a highly prestigious project for Swift Engineering and we are very pleased to have Ricardo partner us for the supply of transmissions” said Casper van der Schoot, Swift Engineering, Inc. program director. “Ricardo has a proven track record in the highest echelons of Motorsports and will be able to provide us with first rated products and support in this program. We are very excited about this new relationship and are looking forward to see the results when the 017.n first hits the track in the fall of this year”.

“We are proud to have been nominated as transmission supplier for the next generation Formula Nippon chassis”, said Ricardo director of high performance transmissions products, Mark Barge. “This contract award further reinforces our growing reputation as the supplier of choice for leading motorsports customers in all parts of the world. We look forward to working together as a team with Swift in order to deliver a state-of-the-art transmission for the next generation of Formula Nippon.”