Xtrac announces new contracts for motorsport gearboxes

The UK-based automotive transmission specialist, Xtrac, which is participating in the Autosport International racing car show this week, has secured valuable contracts to supply transmission systems for the new Formula Le Mans feeder series introduced for 2009 as well as two new race series in South America. Xtrac will participate in the engineering section of the show, which runs for two days, January 8th & 9th, and will be exhibiting in Hall 9 on stand number E1330

A new cost-effective version of Xtrac’s LMP1 gearbox will help support the new ‘open to everyone’ Formula Le Mans championship, which is aimed at developing young drivers. For South America, Xtrac will supply an endurance version of its ‘416’ gearbox the ‘426’ for the TC2000 touring car series in Argentina, and a new version of its ‘396’ gearbox will supply the entire grid for the Brazilian stock car series.

Xtrac, which is a major supplier of transmission systems to Formula One teams, will use the opportunity provided by the Autosport International exhibition to showcase its wide range of gearboxes and differentials developed for rally, touring and sports cars competing in high level formula events. The company will also present its all-new steering rack assembly. The show, which is an important event for Xtrac, attracts countless motorsport buyers and fans every year and also provides an annual forum for the motorsport industry in which the UK plays such an important role.

Xtrac enters the new racing season against a backdrop of supplying numerous championship winners throughout 2008 including WRC, F1, ALMS, LMS, IRL, Grand Am, A1GP and BTCC. Xtrac also supplied race winning transmissions for many of the world’s blue riband events including the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 24 hours, Sebring 12 hours and Le Mans 24 hours endurance sportscar races.

New transmission systems for 2009 include a new gearbox for the A1 Grand Prix ‘World Cup of Motorsport’ race series. The new A1GP gearbox, designed and manufactured by Xtrac at its technical centre at Thatcham in Berkshire, follows a six year agreement between the A1GP organisers and Ferrari to consult on the design and manufacture of a new race car, which is powered by a Ferrari V8 engine. The longitudinal gearbox with its magnesium casing was designed from a clean sheet of paper to suit the new chassis. Xtrac has been the sole gearbox supplier to the A1GP series since it began in 2005.

Xtrac is also displaying a complete 4WD gearbox and driveline designed to meet the latest FIA Super 2000 regulations introduced in 2007. Xtrac is an approved supplier for many high performance series and its ‘532’ six-speed sequential transmission and rear differential for four-wheel drive rally cars, which typically have power outputs of 280bhp and deliver 250Nm of torque, reflect FIA requirements for a reliable and durable transmission at low cost, which can offer excellent value for money.

The main benefits of this transmission system to the rally teams include easily removable gear clusters for ratio changes and differentials with external adjustment for the front, centre and rear. The main benefit for the rally driver is a light and positive sequential gearbox and high performance differentials, which fulfil the FIA mandated minimum weight of 90kg for the whole transmission. A range of homologated gear ratios is available, with the critical gearbox components being able to fulfil the recommended FIA life.

Whilst Xtrac supplies works sportscar teams with gearboxes designed to an ultimate specification, it can also offer a customer version of its ‘529’ gearbox, which has arguably become the gearbox of choice for a LMP1 or LMP2 series car. This gearbox has been used extensively at Le Mans, in LMS and ALMS races. Designed in such a way that various size clusters can be used, this gearbox is now well suited for use in GT1 and GT2 cars where it has already been used to good effect.

Xtrac will also display its innovative and award-winning ‘516’ transmission, developed to provide a reliable, lightweight and cost-effective high performance gearbox for race teams competing in the World Touring Car Championship. This transmission applies Xtrac’s longstanding expertise in gearbox design to minimise mass, size and inertia. Particular attention in the design was paid to improve gear-change response and feel, and differential performance.

In addition to its rear differential for four-wheel drive rally cars, Xtrac is also displaying its well proven ‘522’ unit, which is popular with cross country vehicles participating in rally raid events. The above units provide excellent examples from the wide range of gearboxes and differentials that Xtrac can offer professional rally and race car teams.

With years of experience supplying high precision racks and pinions for F1 teams to construct their own steering assemblies, Xtrac has also designed its first ever complete system, built to a similar high specification, which it can now supply to other race formulae. The Xtrac design comprises a rack and pinion steering assembly, featuring fully ground gears, a titanium or steel rack extension and high specification bushes. It weighs less than 1.8kg complete. The steering rack is assembled under strict quality control procedures. This has required Xtrac to invest in a special test rig to validate each assembly and ensure each one is built to the same consistent high standard.

The initial application for Xtrac’s high specification steering assembly will be LMP1 and LMP2 cars, which typically use an in-column electrical power assistance system, which the Xtrac system is designed to interface with. The design is modular so can be made bigger or smaller for other vehicle installations. The rack and pinion is contained in a one-piece lightweight magnesium housing, allowing various length arms to be fitted, further easing its application into a variety of race cars.

Particular attention has been paid to the ease of backlash adjustment during build to ensure the assembly provides the optimum feel for the driver with the least set-up time. A mount and drive system is included to permit the fitment of a potentiometer to monitor steering angle.

Further information on Xtrac is available at xtrac.com