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Ford to Debut
New EcoBoost Race Engine at 2014 24 Hours of Daytona
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DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 1, 2013
–
As part of its continuing strategy to introduce product-relevant
technology into racing, Ford announced today plans to bring its
3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost®
racing engine to the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar
Championship series.
The
new engine, which will debut at the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona on Jan.
25-26 and run the entire 12-race season, will power a new-look Daytona
Prototype car, created with Ford corporate design influence. Michael
Shank Racing is on board as the first team to put EcoBoost power behind
its DP car.
“At
Ford Racing, we really put great emphasis on racing production-based
vehicles as well as production-based technologies,” says Jamie Allison,
director, Ford Racing. “We’re proud to bring a direct-injected,
twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine to the United SportsCar
Championship in a field of competitive V8-powered entries. We want to
show Ford EcoBoost’s capabilities as an engine that provides both
performance and fuel economy, on and off the track.”
“This
engine is the future,” says Doug Yates, CEO, Roush Yates Racing
Engines. “This Ford EcoBoost engine includes all the newest
technologies – direct injection, turbocharging and high efficiency.
We’re looking at taking it to the next level through this sports car
racing program.”
A
new Ford-inspired Riley Technologies Daytona Prototype car will
accompany the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost in Daytona. The car’s body features
enhanced Ford production vehicle design cues created by lead Ford
production designer Garen Nicoghosian with aerodynamic support from
Ford Racing chief aerodynamicist Bernie Marcus.
“Ford
Motor Company has taken today’s Daytona Prototype and injected into it
unique Ford attributes and unique Ford design characteristics,” says
Allison. “This EcoBoost-powered car is obviously adapted for racing
applications with racing controls, but ultimately we’re running what
we’re selling and selling what we’re running.”
While
the new engine will make its competitive racing debut at the highly
anticipated 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona, it will actually hit the Daytona
track for the first time Oct. 9.
In
a joint effort between Michael Shank Racing, Ford Racing and
Continental Tire, the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona championship team will
aim to set a new track record at the “World Center of Speed” by
eclipsing the 210.364 mph lap laid down Feb. 9, 1987, by NASCAR
champion Bill Elliott, who pushed his Ford Thunderbird to the top of
the speed charts in qualifying for the Daytona 500.
“It’s
really a privilege to have an opportunity to put your name in the
record books like this,” says team owner Mike Shank. “It is almost
inconceivable that this record has stood for such a long time, so it’s
pretty special to be involved. We worked a long time to develop our
relationship with Ford to be in a position to take on projects like
this. Anytime you can get in the record books, it is a great
opportunity and just builds on what this company has done.”
“Ford
Motor Company stands for innovation and leading-edge technology, so
having a chance to debut our Ford EcoBoost technology in a
high-visibility setting such as this record run attempt, as well as the
entire 2014 USCC schedule with its iconic races, is great,” says
Allison. “Through USCC racing and its fan outreach, we want to showcase
how EcoBoost technology presents the combined benefits of performance
and fuel efficiency – something all consumers would want in their
vehicles.”
Weather
permitting, Michael Shank Racing will take to the track at 8 a.m. Oct.
9, to start building up speed for the record attempt.
To
prepare for the record run and upcoming season, the EcoBoost engine has
recently undergone endurance testing at Ford’s Dynamometer Lab in
Dearborn, Mich., specifically at the specialized 17G cell. Production
and racing engineers from Ford and specialists from Roush Yates Racing
Engines have collaborated to ensure the engine is ready for the
upcoming season.
“The
key about this dyno cell is that it’s dedicated to motorsports, but
it’s within Ford’s dynamometer facility,” says David Simon, Ford Racing
engine engineer. “We can do full vehicle simulation in racing
conditions, in a way some of our other cells aren’t capable of doing.
It’s very, very specific to high-performance racing engine programs.”
Race
fans can follow the progression of the record run attempt on Ford
Racing’s Twitter channel (@FordRacing) and Facebook page throughout the
day.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry
leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes
automobiles across six continents. With about 177,000 employees and 65
plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and
Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor
Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products
worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
Contacts:
Kevin
Kennedy
Jason Demchek
Paul Seredynski
Ford Racing
Communications
Ford Performance Communications Ford Global Powertrain Technology Comm.
313-610-6277
313-919-0729
313-815-1494
kkennedy@pcgcampbell.com
jdemcha1@ford.com
pseredyn@ford.com
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Roush Yates | 122 Knob Hill Road |
Mooresville, NC 28117 | United States
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