Advanced Engine Research ready to supply more Indy Lights cars in ’16

Following a year that saw the company inaugurate a new engine for America's reborn Indy Lights program and the conclusion of a successful three-year engagement as sole engine supplier to the GP3 series, Advanced Engine Research, Ltd. looks toward the 2016 season with the renewal of a technical relationship with Mazda in the US-based International Motor Sports Association's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series and the continuation of AER's title-winning World Endurance Championship LMP1 program.

"This was another good year for AER, one in which our company continued its history of steady growth by fully meeting our clients' needs," said Mike Lancaster, the company's managing director. "2015 underlined to the international motorsports community that AER is the premier source for leading edge powerplant solutions that are competitive, reliable and cost-effective."

Indy Lights

A highlight of 2015 according to Lancaster was the successful introduction to the American Indy Lights series of the Mazda MZR-R engine. With an internal project nomenclature of P63, the new engine, which is manufactured and supported by AER, was developed specifically for use in the new Dallara Indy Lights chassis from the company's successful Mazda four-cylinder 2-liter sports car engine.

In developing the Mazda MZR-R for a series where entrant cost is of paramount concern and all competitors use the same chassis and engine, AER focused its efforts on providing an engine that hit the series organizer's performance, reliability and cost targets. With an all-aluminum structure, the fully-stressed engine features a dry weight of 104 kg (230 lbs.) and produces 450 horsepower (with another 50 horsepower available with a push-to-pass feature). With a 6,000-mile maintenance interval the P63 allows a team to go an entire season without a rebuild and helps AER supply the engine for an extremely cost-effective lease for the 10-race season.

The 2015 Indy Lights season saw 16 drivers contest all or part of the 10-race schedule. With the series earning high marks from existing teams, the series anticipates substantial growth for the 2016 season. "We're prepared to support as many additional teams as the series is able to recruit," Lancaster said.