AER offers a wide variety of technical services for customers, including design and analysis, manufacturing, engine assembly and testing. AER also provides a full package of engineers and personnel for race weekend support as well as electronics through their LifeRacing sister company. LifeRacing develops its own hardware and software including electronic engine controls (ECU), drive-by-wire controllers, and ancillary electronics and has aerospace contracts in addition to its racing activities.
AER has experience in a variety of engine technologies, with particular expertise in racing turbocharged engines. CATIA V5 is used for all component design work and there is an in-house prototyping machine shop with 5 axis machining and transient dynamometer equipment for engine testing.
The company was founded with an accent on its electronic capabilities to allow it to develop engines of a more sophisticated level for manufactures. This merging of electronic and mechanical aspects of engine design led to their first contract in 1997 with Nissan for British Touring Car engines. AER developed the engine in six months. Since 1997, AER has developed a number of different engine families for customers.
The engine was also used in the Crawford Racing Nissans in the Swedish Touring Car Championship, taking the title in 2000 with Tommy Rustad. With the demise of Supertouring, the AER-tuned SR20 was used in the short-lived World Series Light, a junior division to the Nissan World Series.
P25
The AER P25 3.5 liter V6 is based on the production Nissan VQ35 engine as found in the Nissan 350Z. It was extensively re-engineered, originally for use in the Nissan World Series). The changes include a bespoke dry sump conversion, pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, camshafts and valve gear. The P25 is used in single seat and sportscar applications with power output to 500 HP.
P14
The AER P14 is a V6 engine developed from a production Nissan VQ engine. The P14 was homologated for use in sportscars fitting in the SR2 category of the FIA Sportscar Championship. Engines in this series were required to be at a maximum of 3.0 liters and based on production units.
P03/07
Created in 2000, the P03 was AER's first clean sheet engine and was developed for MG/Rover for their Le Mans racing efforts. When they backed away from their Le Mans effort after a year, AER took the engine and developed it into a customer engine, the P07. The P07 was a 2.0 liter inline-4 with a single Garrettturbocharger, producing over 500 HP initially and 550 HP by 2003. The engine ran strongly through 2007 in the American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in the LMP2 class. In 2003, Dyson Racing took the ALMS P2 team and driver's (Chris Dyson) championships with their AER-powered Lola EX257.
P32T
Launched in 2006, the new P32T helped AER move to the top of Le Mans Prototype racing. The P32T V8 engine was a bespoke AER design for LMP1 racing and was a 75 degree twin-turbo V8 originally built as a 3.6 liter in 2006 and 2007 and upgraded to 4.0 liters in 2008. Two Garrettturbochargers helped the engine put out more than 650 HP. A naturally aspirated variant, the P32, was designed with a range of 3.4 – 4.2 liters with the 3.4 liter designed for the 2011 LMP1 rules package. The P32T engine project sprang from a conversation Dyson Racing had with AER and during its first season was reliable and quick, winning numerous pole positions. It ran in LMP1 cars competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the ELMS and ALMS.
The engine was designed to take on Audi’s LMP1 3.6 liter twin turbo and its clean sheet design set new standards for size and weight using Formula One technology and weighed only 114kg.
Dyson Racing in America and Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport in Europe initially used the P32T in 2006, while in 2007 Courage Compétition became a customer while Team Cytosport ran Dyson's former AER-powered prototype. In 2008, Intersport Racing ran the engine in their ALMS LMP1 entries and in 2009 and 2010, both Intersport Racing and Autocon ran the AER engine in ALMS P1
MZR-R
The P41 was the first Mazda engine that AER had developed, which was accomplished in conjunction with Mazdaspeed for use in LMP2. An in-line four-cylinder single-turbocharged 2.0 liter, the MZR-R was debuted by B-K Motorsports at the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring, and B-K ran it through 2008. Dyson Racing took up the Mazda flag in 2009. The four-cylinder P41 was based on the structure of AER's 3.6 liter twin-turbo P32T V8 engine. In 2010 the P41 was replaced with the new P70 with a new block and cylinder head and increased power for use in LMP1. The engine represented the state of the art in turbocharged engine technology and was designed for the rigors of a 24-hour race. It is the smallest engine in LMP1, but on a per cylinder basis, the engine produces more power than a Formula One engine. In 2011, Dyson Racing swept the championship table in the ALMS P1 category with driver, team and manufacturer championships. Dyson Racing continues to run the engine and for 2013, the engine has been upgraded for wider power and torque curves and is called the P90.
The MZR-R was selected to power the new Indy Lights car that will debut in 2015, it will be badged as a Mazda engine.
Racing success
AER engines have won a number of championships and major races:
The RS Spyder is a racing car designed by Porsche in conjunction with Penske to compete in Le Mans Prototype Class 2 (LMP2) racing. The car takes its name from the legendary Porsche 550 Spyder of the 1950s. The car marked Porsche's first return to the top level of sports prototype racing since the firm abandoned its Porsche LMP in 1999.
Courage Compétition was a racing team and chassis constructor company now owned by Oreca, based in Le Mans, France, near the Circuit de la Sarthe. It was founded by Yves Courage, a French race driver who ran hillclimbs before founding the company. Following the purchase of Courage by Oreca in 2007, Yves Courage has refounded the company as Courage Technology in 2010, attempting to develop electric racing cars.
The 2006 American Le Mans Series season was the 36th season for the IMSA GT Championship, with the eighth as the American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes (LMP) and Grand Touring (GT) race cars divided into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2. It began March 18, 2006, and ended October 21, 2006 after 10 races.
Dyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team competed successfully in North American sports car racing series, including the IMSA GT Championship and American Le Mans Series.
The Acura ARX-01, later known as the HPD ARX-01 is a series of Le Mans Prototype built for sports car racing, specifically in the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is the first purpose-built race car by the Acura division of Honda Motor Company, part of their multi-year program to eventually compete in endurance race. The car debuted in 2007 in the American Le mans Series before expanding to customers in Europe. Over the years various specifications of the ARX-01 chassis have been developed, each signified by a letter suffix. In 2010 Acura withdrew their name from the program and Honda Performance Development which developed the car for Acura continued the program into 2011.
The MG-Lola EX257 is a Le Mans Prototype racing car built by Lola for the MG car company for their attempt to compete again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2001. The car has had many years of mixed success since its introduction, even in privateer hands.
The Lola B2K/40 was a Le Mans Prototype developed in 2000 by Lola Cars International as a cheaper, smaller, and lighter alternative to the similar Lola B2K/10. Although specifically designed to compete in the SR2 class of the Sports Racing World Cup and Grand American Road Racing Championship, it would later be adapted to the LMP675 and LMP2 classes for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and American Le Mans Series. This design was replaced in 2005 by the Lola B05/40 and would last be used in competition in 2006.
The Lola B05/40 is a Le Mans Prototype built by Lola Cars International for use in the LMP2 class for the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Developed in 2005, it was intended as a replacement for both the Lola B2K/40 and the MG-Lola EX257. It shares various structural elements with the larger LMP1-class Lola B06/10.
The Lola B06/10 is a Le Mans Prototype developed by Lola Cars International for use in the LMP1 class of the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was developed in 2006 as a replacement for the Lola B2K/10 as well as the MG-Lola EX257. It shared much of its mechanical elements and design with the LMP2 class Lola B05/40, which was developed the year prior.
The Reynard 02S was a Le Mans Prototype race car built by Reynard Motorsport in 2002. Intended to replace the failed Reynard 2KQ prototype, the 02S would end up becoming the final new design from Reynard as the company went bankrupt prior to the project's completion.
The Lola B08/80 is a Le Mans Prototype built by Lola Cars International. It is effectively the LMP2 version of the larger Lola B08/60; they are the first closed-cockpit sports prototypes built by Lola since the T92/10 of 1992. The B08/80 is optimised for the smaller engines and lighter weight of the LMP2 category in comparison to the larger and heavier B08/60.
Highcroft Racing was an American auto racing team based out of Danbury, Connecticut and founded by driver Duncan Dayton in 1989. Initially founded for Dayton's involvement in historic motorsport, specifically the restoration and preparation of classic automobiles, the team was expanded for Dayton's entry into the USAC Formula Ford 2000 series in 1994. The team entered a partnership with Intersport Racing in 2003 and entered the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).
The 2009 American Le Mans Series season was the 39th season for the IMSA GT Championship, with it being the eleventh season with the American Le Mans Series moniker. It began on March 21, 2009, and ended on October 10, 2009 after ten events. The series was composed of Le Mans Prototypes (LMP) and Grand Tourer (GT) race cars divided into four classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2. A fifth category, known as the Challenge class, was also added for select races and featured Porsche 997 GT3 Cup cars from the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge. 2009 was also the final year for GT1, with Corvette Racing abandoning the class after Long Beach and switching over to much more competitive GT2 class.
The 2009 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring was the 57th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring and the opening round of the 2009 American Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Sebring International Raceway, Florida on March 21, 2009. Three new cars made their debut at Sebring: Audi's diesel R15 TDI, Acura's first LMP1 entry the ARX-02a, and the return of the BMW M3 to the GT2 category. It was also the last time GT1 category raced at the event.
OAK Racing is an endurance racing team specialising in sports prototypes based in Le Mans, France. In 2013 it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 class and the 2013 FIA WEC World Champion drivers and teams on LMP2 class.
Muscle Milk Pickett Racing was a motorsports group from Indianapolis, Indiana. The team was founded in 2007 by CytoSport co-founder and former IMSA GT Championship driver Greg Pickett. Since 2007, Pickett's team has competed in the United SportsCar Championship, the American Le Mans Series, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge. The team officially closed in 2014.
The HPD ARX-03a, ARX-03b, and ARX-03c are Le Mans Prototypes race cars developed by Honda Performance Development in 2012. The 03a model utilizes a Honda V8 engine for use in the LMP1 category, while the 03b uses a turbocharged V6 engine for the LMP2 category. Three teams have already announced their use of the ARX-03 in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the American Le Mans Series, as well as at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Muscle Milk Pickett Racing have purchased an 03a for use in the American Le Mans Series, joined by two 03bs for Level 5 Motorsports. In the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship, Strakka Racing and JRM Racing campaigned a single 03a each, joined by a single-car 03b entry by Starworks Motorsport in LMP2.
Champion Racing was a sports car racing team based in Pompano Beach, Florida, USA. Founded in 1994 by Dave Maraj, a former rally driver from Trinidad, as the motorsport wing of the Champion Motors car dealership, the team has campaigned various Porsches and Audis in North American road racing series. Champion Racing's extensive record includes a win at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2005, and 5 straight American Le Mans Series LMP1 championships, 2 as a private team and 3 as a factory team under the name Audi Sport North America.
Intersport Racing is a former American auto racing team founded by Jon Field. The team was based in Dublin, Ohio. They previously operated two Oreca FLM09 sports cars in the American Le Mans Series. At current, the company has transitioned into diet supplements.
The Ligier JS P2 is a racing car designed and built by French manufacturer Onroak Automotive and named in partnership with French former racing driver Guy Ligier. Designed for the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) regulations, it is intended as a second option to Onroak's Morgan LMP2 that has been competing since 2012. As well as being the first closed-cockpit car offered by Onroak, it is also the first car they designed entirely in-house. The JS P2 debuted at the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, and has been campaigned in the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
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