DP World has been named the official logistics partner of the Porsche Formula E Team in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, following its debut at the multi-year partnership earlier this season.

The logistics provider will provide end-to-end supply chain solutions including inbound components and EV battery handling and finished vehicle distribution.

Beat Simon, group chief commercial officer and chief operating officer, logistics of DP World, said, “This partnership builds on our existing relationship with Porsche, including smart logistics support for the Leipzig production center, and provides a global platform to strengthen customer relationships and celebrate innovation in electric mobility.”

Thomas Laudenbach, vice president Porsche Motorsport, said, “DP World’s expertise in smart end-to-end logistics and their global footprint make them a strong partner for our Formula E program. Together, we aim to combine high-performance engineering on track with operational excellence behind the scenes.”

The collaboration adds to DP World’s global sports portfolio, which includes McLaren F1, SailGP, the DP World Tour, the Ryder Cup, the International Cricket Council and Yamaha Factory Racing.

In related news, DP World supports new Japan–Philippines service to ship housing materials

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Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) will use the Siemens Xcelerator software portfolio to develop the next-generation Mono, its single-seater, road-legal race car.

Developed to be equally at home on the road as it is on the track, the 570kg Mono supercar is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5L powertrain which develops 311bhp and 313Nm of torque, which translates to a power-to-weight ratio of 546 hp-per-metric ton.

With optimal weight distribution and a lightweight structure featuring BAC’s graphene-infused carbon panels, the Mono accelerates to 60mph in 2.7 seconds. However, the team aims to significantly improve this number in the next generation vehicle.

To push the limits of high-performance automotive design, BAC’s senior management and design team reevaluated their core development technologies and chose Siemens’ NX X from the Designcenter suite for the next-generation Mono’s engineering.

“Anything that helps us be ahead of the game and be ahead of anybody else. The reason we chose Siemens’ Designcenter software to develop the next generation of Mono is because it’s the best – and it gives us the tools we need to take our vision to the next level,” said Ian Briggs, design director and co-founder.

“Our vision was to create a car that simply didn’t exist. The fundamental principle of a sports car is choosing excitement over utility, and we took that to the nth degree. Mono is that philosophy made real—a vehicle without compromise, built to prove that being ahead of the game means refusing to compromise on the driving experience.”

The challenge of homologation

BAC’s move to Designcenter is intended to address the challenge of serving a global customer base and certifying that a vehicle complies with the regulatory and safety standards set in a particular region or country.

Briggs explained, “A key challenge for us is homologating the car for the global market. Understanding the specific positional requirements for everything from headlights to driver sight lines is a complex minefield. The great advantage of Designcenter is that it allows us to build that entire regulatory framework directly into our 3D CAD model, giving us new levels of confidence and a greater speed of development.”

Immersive design

BAC is also exploring ways to enhance the customer buying and customization experience with Siemens’ immersive engineering technology, enabling customers to use immersive XR technology to experience their bespoke vehicles, based on real-world 3D CAD data, presented in high-fidelity realism.

Elliott Marshall, production manager, BAC, said, “The thing that makes BAC truly unique is the bespoke elements. Siemens’ Immersive Engineering technology allows us to present to the customer exactly what they’re ordering. Being able to sit in their seat fitting jig and see all of the personal customizations they want around them, interact with them as if they’re already implemented, is going to get the fire burning within them.”

In related news, Horse Powertrain, via its Aurobay Technologies division, has signed an agreement to supply engines for the ARC2, a new rally car developed by USA-based JRD Motorsport for the American Rally Association’s RC2 class

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MoTeC has launched an ergonomically designed, lightweight racing wheel, engineered with a full carbon-fiber body and an integrated C125 display. Each component has been selected with input from professional FIA series drivers.

Alireza Tashakori, manager of e-mobility business development and application at MoTeC, commented, “We’ve had this idea for a long time. When the opportunity came up with a pilot client, we decided that if we wanted to do this, we would do it as a product off the shelf. So, we seized the opportunity and then worked with some collaborators to make it happen.”

The racing steering wheel is fully FIA marshaling controlled, meaning it is integrated with the FIA’s marshaling system, which allows automated, real-time communication between race control and the driver through the steering wheel’s display or lights.

Tashakori added, “We can split the CAN into private CAM and public CAN. And we offer all the standard logging features that motorsports teams typically require, including secure logging capabilities. This is handled through our KeePass function, which is an encrypted, cloud-based data storage system.”

He continued, “We added the capability to display text to the driver via an external controller, so you can send the CAN command and then you message the driver, in addition to marshaling messages.”

The racing steering wheel is due to be FIA crash tested by the end of the year.

In related news, Cosworth unveiled its next-generation CCW Mk3 steering wheel at the opening round of the IndyCar championship in St Petersburg, Florida, on March 2

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In its role as official temporary power solutions provider, Aggreko will be bringing low-carbon energy generation systems to Formula 1’s European races this summer.

Aggreko will provide a range of “resilient, efficient, low emission solutions” through its Greener Upgrades range, which includes solar PV hybrid systems using battery energy storage systems (BESS) and stage V generators fueled with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The solutions, which have been developed in collaboration with Formula 1 using data and insights across several races over the last two years, will power all event services, including the paddock and the international broadcast compound.

Aggreko’s approach was demonstrated when a centralized energy solution was used at three races last year, including the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix. The solar PV, hybridized BESS and HVO-fueled stage V generator solution reduced the need for 30+ additional generators from other suppliers and reduced associated carbon emissions by >90% compared to the 2022 event. Similar results are expected in 2025, with data collected from last year’s trial is being used to optimize solutions for future races.

Ellen Jones, head of ESG at Formula 1, said, “The delivery of our net zero by 2030 commitment is driven by new technologies and new ways of working. With Aggreko’s support, Formula 1 is taking another step to reduce emissions across the paddock. The low-carbon power solutions will be in action across our European events this year and will further support our drive to be net zero by 2030.”

Robert Wells, European president and head of events at Aggreko, added, “Our partnership with Formula 1 is built on the strength of our shared vision and values. By improving performance in innovation, sustainability and technology through our work powering some of the sport’s supporting infrastructure, we are showcasing how bespoke solutions using our latest Greener Upgrades technologies can help meet ESG goals in a setting that is the ultimate test of performance. We’re proud to collaborate with Formula 1 on its global stage, setting a shining example of how large event operators can accelerate change by learning from this progressive approach in reducing emissions.”

In related news, BWT Alpine F1 Team has selected Arctic Wolf as its official cybersecurity partner. Read the full story here

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Brian James Trailers (BJT), a trailer manufacturer, has unveiled its latest Race Transporter 7 (RT7), a lightweight enclosed trailer that is set to redefine high-end vehicle logistics. Weighing approximately 200kg less than its counterpart, the Race Transporter 6 (RT6), the RT7 offers a higher load capacity. It aims to cater to the growing challenge of towing heavier vehicles in the UK, where the limit is 3.5 tons.

As cars, particularly EVs, continue to increase in size and weight, the absence of an increase in towing limits necessitates the development of lighter trailers. BJT has addressed this need with the RT7, which is available in black or white, and customers can choose between tri-axle or twin-axle models. Optional upgrades for extra height are also available, facilitated by the design’s lower unladen weight.

Lewis James, CEO of BJT, emphasized, “With exceptional specification and a lighter, stronger, smarter design, the RT7 takes enclosed car transport to a new level. Whether for supercar exotics, motorsport, classics or vehicle logistics, the RT7 is the ultimate choice.”

The RT7 incorporates an industry-first electric actuator with a wireless remote for operating the rear door and tilt bed, eliminating the need for manual handling. Advanced LED lighting, including rear, front and side lights, along with side-mounted reversing lights, enhances visibility. Automatic rear loading lights activate when the back door opens. The trailer’s interior is equipped with full-length strip lighting, switchable between the onboard 12V battery and the tow vehicle’s power.

The innovative electric tilting bed, controlled by a front-mounted actuator, ensures easy operation with no manual pumping or complicated catches, offering an extremely low ground clearance. The RT7 also introduces a lighter and less damaging electric winch with synthetic rope and wireless operation.

Aesthetic considerations have not been overlooked, with the RT7 featuring a clean, contemporary design both inside and out. The composite bodywork is the result of collaboration with GRP specialist Quantum Mouldings.

Standard features include a spare wheel cover and diamond-cut anthracite alloy wheels. The RT7 is available as a twin axle in various bed lengths and widths. Its global debut is scheduled for the Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, from January 11 to 14, 2024.

For more logistics news, please click here.

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UK-based electric and hybrid powertrain specialist Hypermotive has launched a European subsidiary, Hypermotive GmbH. The move, says the company, marks the natural progression of a long-term partnership with German e-mobility engineering and battery distributor GS-Power. The new company will bring Hypermotive’s e-mobility products and integration engineering to EU and Scandinavian customers.

Based in northern Bavaria, the European company is ideally positioned to support the automotive, motorsport and marine markets in Germany and wider Europe. Adam Huckstep, MD at Hypermotive Group, remarked, “Hypermotive’s increasing engagement with Europe-based customers, coupled with the challenges of Brexit, meant that it was becoming very important for Hypermotive to have a permanent establishment in the EU. Hypermotive GmbH provides a highly skilled engineering team, access to vehicle workshops, testing and manufacturing capability, based in the heart of Europe.”

Hypermotive GmbH will focus on delivering fuel cell, battery and autonomous vehicle programs, with particular expertise in the automotive, motorsport and marine sectors. Guido Seitz, MD of GS.net GmbH & Co KG and Hypermotive GmbH, explained, “We’ve been collaborating with Hypermotive for quite some time now, so the launch of Hypermotive GmbH is the logical consequence. Our team of engineers and technicians based in Großostheim (Aschaffenburg) are delivering Hypermotive’s e-mobility engineering and products directly to customers within the European economic zone.”

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The new software should help Mercedes’s team of designers, engineers and budget planners better understand and more precisely predict the costs of manufacturing its vehicles, through the use of a bill of materials and budgeting module.

This, says Tibco, will allow each design engineer to compare CAD work to all known financial data, which can be viewed, scrutinized and evaluated from part manufacturing to vehicle assembly. When pooled into the budgeting tool, the team can predict the cost of individual parts at the design stage and a whole car project.

While even teams such as Mercedes have kept an eye on budgets in the past, resource management was more about working within the bounds of regulation-imposed limitations on tools such as CFD and wind tunnel time. With the cost cap comes an additional element of resource management. Teams cannot be wasting their budget allocation on elements that may not prove decisive and cost will have to play a much greater role in the engineering calculus.

As Toto Wolff, team principal and chief executive officer, Mercedes-AMG, explained, “Using the Cost Visualizer tool gives us an additional edge, offering the team insights into the full costs of building, running and manufacturing our race cars, while ensuring the data entered at source is accurate, giving us a critical advantage.”

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Mladá Boleslav, close to the company’s Czech Republic factory, is home to Škoda Motorsport’s new headquarters. A purpose-built 16,400m² (176,530ft²) facility will house all departments of Škoda Motorsport under one roof.

With 1,859m² (20,010ft²) of office space and 3,844m² (41,380ft²) of workshops and storage, there is plenty of room for everything from R&D, production and prototype workshops, to logistics and administration.

Christian Strube, head of technical development, Škoda Auto, said, “With this new headquarter, we are prepared for the future challenges. With an improved workflow, we can develop and build-up cars even more efficiently and make our services for our customers even better.”

The new facility comes at just the right time, given the success of the Fabia R5 rally car. Strube adds, “Last year, our target was to provide more than 200 Fabia R5s to customers worldwide. And we delivered! Up to now, almost 250 Fabia R5s were sold. To maintain that momentum, these new premises are an ideal foundation for the future success of our motorsport program.”

Škoda Motorsport boss Michal Hrabánek emphasized: “This brand-new facility clearly demonstrates Škoda’s commitment to motorsport. It will help us to improve our customer service and to continue the success story of Škoda Motorsport worldwide!”

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At the 2017 Professional MotorSport World Expo, Quentor will be showcasing its all-new ‘Fast Track Q’ seamless truck fascia system. The latest addition to Quentor’s race-weekend proven Fast Track range of walling systems, the ‘Q’ range creates a large, uninterrupted branding space to welcome race weekend guests. Graphics flow seamlessly from panel to panel across its 4M high glossy surface. Attached to a supporting gantry structure, the panels simply slot and lock together, something that Quentor states allows the sysetm to be assembled in a fraction of the time taken to construct traditional framed facia units.

Designed to be used time and time again, the whole system quickly and neatly packs away into its own bespoke designed flight case for efficient safe storage and transport. Representatives from Quentor will be on hand to explain the system’s easy setup and long life reusability.

Stop by Booth 4024, at the 2017 Professional MotorSport World Expo to find out more.

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Qualcomm Technologies and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport have jointly announced that the long-standing partnership between the two companies will be furthered, as the two continue to develop and test high-speed wireless communications, as well as the wireless transfer of power for Formula 1.

These tests are based around ‘highly advanced connected car solutions’, such as 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 802.11ad Wi-Fi, 5G New Radio (NR), cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) and Qualcomm WiPower wireless charging, on the track and for Daimler’s next-generation commercial vehicles.

Expanding beyond the initial tests utilizing 5 GHz 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology in 2015, Qualcomm Technologies and Mercedes-AMG Motorsports continued to work together in 2016 to test high-speed wireless download of vehicle data using 802.11ad Wi-Fi technology in the 60 GHz band. During the field trials, race engineers utilized both technologies to gather data directly from the team’s cars while in the pit and garage. Utilizing the 60 GHz band, the team has been able to show real-word throughputs of 1.5 Gbps, which is 3.5x faster than performance results previously achieved with the prior 5 GHz solution. In addition, lab testing using both 5 GHz and 60 GHz simultaneously indicates that throughputs close to 2 Gbps can be achieved, resulting in 4-5x improvement in speed from previous implementation.

This work continues to showcase significant improvements from the previous wired data offload system, which required a plug-in connection from the car to computers in the pit garage. Test results also validate how quickly and efficiently data can be pulled from the vehicle, as well as to help evaluate vehicle performance under extreme race conditions. Qualcomm Technologies will continue to evaluate performance increases in the 60 GHz and 5 GHz off-load programs, as well as explore new technologies to make it possible for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport to send data straight to their race engineers without making a pit stop by utilizing new emerging 5G wireless and C-V2X technologies.

In addition to the wireless transfer of data, Qualcomm Technologies and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport will collaborate on testing the wireless transfer of power using a WiPower interface. Evaluating various difficult-to-access interfaces on the vehicle, the teams intend to replace physical connectors with wireless power interfaces, thus enabling rapid dismantling and reassembly of vehicle parts during complex repair resulting from on track incidents.

“Qualcomm Technologies has been delivering wireless communications, including cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to the automotive industry for over a decade,” said Derek Aberle, president, Qualcomm Incorporated. “Working closely with Mercedes, Qualcomm Technologies has been able to fine-tune and advance our technologies under the extreme conditions of a race track to deliver the most cutting-edge solutions for advanced vehicle applications.”

“Winning in Formula One means working with the best in order to innovate in every area – and this is what our partnership with Qualcomm Technologies brings us,” addded Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. “Not only have we worked to develop solutions for the track, which give us a competitive advantage each race weekend, but these projects serve as a laboratory for cutting-edge solutions that will make their way into automotive applications in the near future. It’s the perfect demonstration of how the high-tech environment of Formula One can accelerate the development of technologies with applications a long way beyond racing.”

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