Visteon Takes Technologies to the Track With Motorsport Partnerships
29 January 1998
Visteon Takes Technologies to the Track With Motorsport Partnerships
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 29 -- Visteon Automotive Systems has
formed motorsport partnerships in three racing series for 1998 designed to put
its advanced technologies through the paces under the extreme conditions of
the race track.
In a racing program unprecedented among Tier I automotive systems
suppliers, Visteon will contribute key racing technology to Patrick Racing in
CART and Panoz Motor Sports, which competes in both European and American GT
sports car racing series. Also, Visteon will continue its role as Stewart
Grand Prix's full-service electronics supplier in Formula One, and will
support its current contracts in CART.
Visteon's racing program aims to produce wins on the track and off the
track as well -- in the form of "wins" for its customers. The program
reflects Visteon's determination to offer its customers best-in-class
technological capabilities and engineering talent.
"Racing will strengthen our ability to deliver leading-edge technology to
our customers," says Charles Szuluk, president, Visteon. "Our racing program
helps us develop our engineers, explore new technologies and transfer this
knowledge from the race track to the road in a way that meets our customers'
needs."
Visteon is a full system supplier in the racing arena, putting its
hardware, software, control strategies, and track-side support to work for its
racing partners.
Racing technologies from Visteon include control systems for the engine,
throttle, gearbox, clutch, differential and brakes; and data management and
communication systems for real-time information from the car and driver to the
team.
Visteon plans to capitalize on the product and systems integration
expertise of its seven systems divisions -- Climate Control, Chassis, Glass,
Electronics, Exterior, Interior and Powertrain Control -- to contribute to its
racing program.
"We're excited to be the only systems supplier providing such a
comprehensive level of support to our racing partners," says Szuluk. "We look
forward to building on our racing product portfolio to increase our level of
support as time goes on."
Visteon, an enterprise of Ford Motor Company with nearly a
century of experience, has 78,000 employees located in 74 plants, including 29
joint venture facilities, and 30 sales offices, engineering and technical
centers in 19 countries around the world.
VISTEON RACING PARTNERS
Stewart Grand Prix joined the Formula One series in 1997. Headed by
three-time Formula One World Champion Jackie Stewart and his son Paul, the
team qualified consistently well, and finished second at the prestigious
Monaco Grand Prix. The Alan Jenkins-designed SF-1 chassis used a
Ford/Cosworth V10 race engine. For 1998 the SF-2 chassis gets an updated
version of the engine. Rubens Barrichello and Jan Magnussen will share the
driving chores in this two-car team.
Patrick Racing began in the 1997 season with a win by lead driver Scott
Pruett in the Surfer's Paradise race in Australia. Its 1997 CART effort
utilized a Reynard chassis, turbocharged Ford/Cosworth V8 engine and Firestone
tires. These building blocks will be carried over for 1998, as will driver
Scott Pruett. He will be joined in 1998 by driver Adrian Fernandez as CART
expands its series to include a race in Motegi, Japan, and Houston, Texas.
Panoz made its international racing debut in 1997. In the FIA GT series,
the Panoz GTR1 raced against factory efforts from Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and
BMW-McLaren. Against these established players, the Ford-powered Panoz team
improved throughout the year, and finished third at the FIA GT race in
Sebring, Florida. The team's efforts in the U.S. sports car racing series
garnered four victories, and a second place in the manufacturers'
championship. For 1998, Panoz will continue its European and North American
efforts, including an assault on the historic 24 Hours of LeMans.
SOURCE Visteon Automotive Systems
