Hitech Racing ready to tackle Superleague car
After successful dyno testing last week, the V-12 has been fitted to the Superleague Formula chassis ready for its first run today. The car will conduct straight line testing this week before hitting the track for the first time at Donington Park next week.
Formed in 2003 by experience Formula 3 team manager David Hayle, Hitech’s past driver roster has included Renault F1 test driver Lucas Di Grassi and Estonian Marko Asmer – the newly appointed BMW F1 test driver who earned the team’s first British F3 championship last year.
“I have been talking with Robin Webb at Superleague Formula over the past couple of years and we were originally discussing the possibility of running a team in the series – that evolved into the idea of overseeing the test program for the car." Hayle said. “The Superleague Formula car looks fantastic. Everyone involved in the project have done a really good job and I am very impressed with the entire package. The design of the car has been very well thought through by Elan and it is all coming together quite well."
“We are really looking forward to the Superleague Formula development program – it is a great extension of the work we undertake in Formula 3 where we run wind tunnel programs, simulations, transmission development and tire development programs. It is a different challenge for us because we are putting together a kit of parts which is going remain for the entire championship. Our goal is to iron out any possible bugs, develop a strong base set up and ensure excellent reliability."
The Superleague Formula prototype will undertake six, three day tests in southern Europe over the next four months before the final 20 cars are assembled at Elan’s UK base at Van Diemen Motorsports in Norfolk.
Superleague Formula will feature 20 cars on the grid bearing the colors of the world’s leading football clubs. Already, European clubs AC Milan, Olympiacos, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Borussia Dortmund, RSC Anderlecht, FC Basel, Galatasaray and Sevilla FC have joined the championship as well as Brazilian heavyweights, Flamengo and Corinthians.
Hayle is looking forward to the on-track debut of the Superleague Formula car, a machine that he believes drivers are going to find both challenging and rewarding.
“The Superleague Formula car is going to be a beast to drive – a huge challenge to even the best drivers," Hayle said. “There is a lot of horsepower, no traction control and no real driver aids – it will place a huge emphasis on the skill level of the drivers. It has a very wide track, slick tires – the teams will have to work very hard on mechanical grip as this is a very big car. Elan have done their homework on what is required mechanically and aerodynamically to provide a good stable package."