‘ Racing has become more and more complex in terms of regulations, and we have to make sure we comply’
What does Toyota need a whole new race V8 for when it already has one in a NASCAR and its Lexus RC F GT3, though?‘ V8 Supercar is quite specific in the way its regulations are written. And they [ Toyota ] looked at using something, then adapting it. Which is actually the way Ford do V8 Supercars, they use their GT3 engine, modified. They are having a lot of problems, but I don’ t know if it is linked to that. Anyway, for us it was a clean sheet. These are the regulations, these are the boundaries, these are the targets. Swindon, you crack on.’ It’ s not a whole new engine; Swindon has taken the block from the 2UR-GSE motor, a V8 used mostly in Lexus models. But that’ s pretty much all that’ s left of the original engine. Swindon Powertrain has developed a new crank to increase the displacement, new injection to comply with the series rules, a 3D printed induction manifold, a rework of the valvetrain to convert the inlet cam to hydraulic variable timing … the list goes on.
It’ s all necessary.‘ In V8 Supercars, there are specific issues like fuel economy. Bathurst, the 1000km of Bathurst, is a big race, which obviously has fuel stops. Fuel economy is a huge deal at Bathurst, so developing an engine, making the engine more fuel efficient, is really part of what we needed to do.’
At the time of writing, Ryan Wood in his Swindon-powered Supra has already scored pole position twice and taken a win. Because, as Raphaël has said, it’ s not taking part that counts, it’ s the winning. And keeping those wins, too.‘ We ensure they’ re compliant with race regulations. Racing has become more and more complex in terms of regulations, and we have to make sure we comply. Because if we’ re going to win, then it’ s all going to be checked, and it better be within the rules.’
Swindon has two steady state dynos so that engines are tested and developed in stable and understandable conditions
‘ Racing has become more and more complex in terms of regulations, and we have to make sure we comply’
50 The Engine Rebuilder Issue 05