Although Blancpain GT Series GT 3 racing cars resemble stock models to the eye, below the frame everything is different. The engine, transmission, suspension and many other components are all designed to withstand the rigors of racing. And what role does the motor oil play?
For many years MOTOREX has supported Switzerland’s successful Emil Frey Racing team in touring car racing. As lubricant partner, MOTOREX plays a crucial role.
The tasks performed by motor oil in a stock engine and in a racing engine are largely identical. The biggest difference is that the physical and thermal stresses in a racing engine are many times higher. This is because races are mostly run at full power. With engine speeds in the range of 8000 RPM, racing engines are pushed to the limits of their performance capacity. At the 400- to 4000-kilometer race distances of the Blancpain GT Series, the extra-light forged racing pistons move at speeds of up to 25 meters per second for hours at a time. Only a sheer film of lubricant separates the piston from the cylinder. At the same time, the high pressures in the combustion chamber generate extreme temperatures that are transmitted to the base of the piston. The temperature in the piston head can reach 300 ° C.
MOTOREX XPERIENCE FS-X
As is customary in racing, the performance capacity of the oil reflects the requirements of the engine designer. Emil Frey Racing uses fully synthetic high-lubricity MOTOREX XPERIENCE FS-X SAE 10W/60 motor oil. Using the synthetic low-viscosity base oil in combination with a high-performance additive, for example, yielded improved friction results which in turn enhance engine performance and stability during races.
FROM STOCK TO RACING ENGINE
Famous engine design firm Ilmor Engineering Ltd. In Northampton, UK transformed a Jaguar V8 into a true racing engine with impressive performance figures for Emil Frey Racing. The upgrade boosted engine output from 283 kW to a hefty 442 kW. In the Lexus RC F GT3, by comparison, the LEXUS Racing Development factory engine puts out 404 kW. During a race, the high nominal capacity of both power plants needs to be available without interruption, under a full load, over thousands of kilometers and under a wide range of environmental conditions. Nowadays standard practice for racing engineers involves checking a large number of vehicle parameters via telemetry for analysis, including output, temperatures, pressures, knocking values, exhaust values, etc.
Winning means getting each individual factor right within the complex interplay of the race. The motor oil is every bit as important as the condition of the driver. As so often, the real limits are set by physics.