Supercars considering drive-by-wire throttle system

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

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.

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