Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia
Breaking news

Supercars considering drive-by-wire throttle system

Supercars is considering introducing a drive-by-wire throttle system for its 2020 season.

Craig Lowndes, Triple Eight Holden Sandman

Craig Lowndes, Triple Eight Holden Sandman

Triple Eight Race Engineering

As part of a cost-cutting push the category is looking to increase engine life from next year onwards, helping teams cut down on expensive rebuilds.

Tweaks to the engine package could include a move away from a traditional throttle cable system in favour of drive-by-wire.

The electronic system is being evaluated today at Queensland Raceway as part of a trial of a new ECU package, with testing being carried out by Craig Lowndes in Triple Eight's 'Sandman' Supercars wagon.

The wagon, which started life as a Jamie Whincup race winner before being turned into a promotional ride car, has been re-fitted with a V8 engine, having most recently run the twin turbo V6 engine that Holden was developing.

Given that it's fitted with drive-by-wire, the Sandman will allow Supercars' technical department to assess how the system works with the tweaked ECU system.

“At the time, the main point of doing [the drive-by-wire] was to show Supercars what was possible,” T8 team manager Mark Dutton told the Supercars website.

“As an engineer, [drive]-by-wire is good, it has some definite positives, but for the category it’ll be about cost versus benefit.”

Triple Eight is also running its two main game and two Super2 cars at QR today, while DJR Team Penske and Matt Stone Racing are also in action.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Smith to partner Hazelwood for Supercars enduros
Next article The full 2019 Supercars endurance grid

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia