Practical motorsport engineering

315 Pages·2019·52.371 MB·English

by  Livesey, Andrew

Practical Motorsport Engineering
This guide and textbook on motorsport engineering is written from a practical point of view.
It offers a wide-ranging insight into the nuts and bolts technology of practical car racing from
saloons and sports cars to open wheelers. It gives the aspiring race engineer the tools to do
the job by explaining all aspects of race car technology and offering crucial insight into the
essentials of the motorsport engineering industry.
For motorsport engineering students at all levels, this book particularly covers the
examination syllabuses for IMI (the Institute of the Motor Industry), EAL and BTEC, and
meets the CPD requirements of most engineering institutions. Each aspect of the race car is
covered in a separate chapter with test questions and suggestions for further study at the end.
Combining the key points from his previous publications Basic Motorsport Engineering and
Advanced Motorsport Engineering, the author draws on a career in teaching and industry to
create the must-have, all-in-one reference. It is an ideal companion for the practising owner,
driver or race engineer (whether amateur or professional), a suitable introductory text for
HND and degree students and a great point of reference for any other keen fans with an
interest in motorsport.
Andrew Livesey has set up a Kart Engineering Academy at Buckmore Park Kart Circuit,
is a member of the Institute of the Motor Industry and the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, and has been an examiner for degrees in both Motorsport Engineering and
Automotive Engineering. He is former Head of Motorsport on the Oxford Brookes
University Brooklands HND and degree programmes, has worked for McLaren F1 and
super car production, and has run a company building race and rally cars. He was also
technical editor of Cars and Car Conversions and Custom Car magazines. He teaches
part-time and runs an independent consultancy in Kent.

Practical Motorsport Engineering
Andrew Livesey
First published 2019
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2019 Andrew Livesey
The right of Andrew Livesey to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Livesey, Andrew, author.
Title: Practical motorsport engineering / Andrew Livesey.
Description: First edition. | Abingdon, Oxon : Routledge/Taylor & Francis,
2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2018038946 (print) | LCCN 2018040523 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781351239165 (ePub) | ISBN 9781351239172 (Adobe PDF) |
ISBN 9781351239158 (Mobipocket) | ISBN 9780815375692 (hardback) |
ISBN 9780815375685 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781351239189 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Automobiles, Racing—Design and construction—Textbooks. |
Motorsports—Textbooks.
Classification: LCC TL236 (ebook) | LCC TL236 .L5825 2019 (print) |
DDC 629.228/5—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018038946
ISBN: 978-0-8153-7569-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-8153-7568-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-23918-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
This book is dedicated to the memory of
JOHN SURTEES CBE
The only person to be world champion on both two wheels
and four wheels. He taught me how to go around corners and
confirmed that it is important to support those less fortunate
by providing accessible help and training.

Contents
Preface viii
Abbreviations and symbols ix
1 Power unit – engine 1
2 Ignition and fuel 48
3 Lubrication and cooling 73
4 Transmission 97
5 Running gear 149
6 Electrical and electronic systems 222
7 Body and chassis 252
8 Inspect, test and rebuild 269
Glossary 294
Index 299
Preface
We are now living in the Golden Era of Motorsport. It has become accessible to all. There are
now more opportunities for motorsport than ever before, and the costs are the cheapest that
they have ever been. The growth of track days, and clubman motorsport, in both two-wheel
and four-wheel formats, give exciting opportunities for practical involvement either as an
owner driver or small-scale business. Along with this are glorious professional opportunities
in motorsport engineering as the big names fight out million-pound (dollar) battles around
the world in events such as F1, DTM, Indy Car and Superbike.
I hope that you find this book useful whatever your involvement in the sport. If you see me
at events please say hello, I’m always happy to chat.
Andrew Livesey MA CEng MIMechE FIMI
Herne Bay, Kent
[email protected]
Abbreviations and symbols
The abbreviations are generally defined by being written in full when the relevant technical
term is first used in the book. In a very small number of cases, an abbreviation may be used
for two separate purposes, usually because the general concept is the same, but the use of
a superscript or subscript would be unnecessarily cumbersome; in these cases, the defini-
tion should be clear from the context of the abbreviation. The units used are those of the
internationally accepted System International (SI). However, because of the large American
participation in motorsport, and the desire to retain the well-known Imperial system of units
by UK motorsport enthusiasts, where appropriate Imperial equivalents of SI units are given.
Therefore, the following is intended to be useful for reference only and is neither exhaustive
nor definitive.
α (alpha) angle – tyre slip angle
λ (lambda) angle of inclination; or measurement of air–fuel ratio
μ (mu) co-efficient of friction
ω (omega) rotational velocity
ρ (rho) air density
a acceleration
A area – frontal area of vehicle; or Ampere
ABS anti-lock braking system; or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (a plastic)
AC alternating current
AED automatic enrichment device
AF across flats – bolt head size
AFFF aqueous film forming foam (fire fighting)
ATC automatic temperature control
bar atmospheric pressure
BATNEEC best available technique not enabling excessive cost
BCF bromochorodifluoromethane (fire fighting)
BS British Standard
BSI British Standards Institute
C Celsius; or Centigrade
CAD computer-aided design
CAE computer-aided engineering
CAM computer aided manufacturing
C aerodynamic co-efficient of drag
D