Cosworth eyes IndyCar engine (2nd Update Kalkhoven)
MC: Kevin, we have seen the quotes from Hal Reisiger regarding Cosworth doing an IndyCar engine. How real are they?
KK: IndyCar CEO is being very aggressive about getting a third engine manufacturer into the series, [replacing Lotus who dropped out because their Judd designed engine was not competitive] and he has some real good strategy behind it. It is a real story and a real attempt by IndyCar to do this.
MC: Where would the engine be designed and manufactured?
KK: We (Cosworth) are building a new state-of-the-art facility in Northampton, UK, next door to our existing facility. There will be nothing else like it in the world. The proposed new factory will occupy 50,000 square feet. The factory will house a state-of-the-art Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) that will be unique in the UK and will deliver world-leading high tech manufacturing for global brands within the automotive industry. Work on the new factory is scheduled to begin operation in July 2014. The Centre will develop and commercialize new manufacturing technologies that will enable more complex engine component designs for motorsports and the automotive industry. The facility will incorporate 11 machining centers at full capacity, incorporating water jet wash and de-burring, CMM and intergraded honing machines. The complete in-house capability will range from the production of precision machined engine components to fully assembled engines from raw castings.
MC: Didn't Lotus originally ask Cosworth to do its IndyCar engine?
KK: Yes, and we did a preliminary design and gave them a price to build a proper competitive IndyCar engine. They ultimately contacted with Judd at a lower cost and we all know how that turned out.
MC: So if Miles is able to find an OEM that wants to enter the series you would not have to start a design from scratch would you?
KK: That is correct, we already are fairly far along on the twin-turbo V6 design.
MC: What would be the terms of the deal with a third OEM?
KK: I don't know, that is confidential between IndyCar and the OEM.
MC: How would the third OEM get any of the good teams if they are already locked up with Honda and Chevy?
KK: I don't know what IndyCar's plans are in that regard. I assume once word got out that the new OEM was coming, teams would express an interest.
At the end of the day, a new car manufacturer is not going to enter the series if they don't have a chance to be competitive with some good teams, so IndyCar will have to deal with this issue and may already have a plan.
02/28/14 Engineering company Cosworth has not powered an Indy car entry since 2008 when it was the muscle behind the Panoz DP01 in the final Champ Car World Series event at Long Beach.
When that league folded into the Indy Racing League following the 2007 season, becoming the current day IndyCar Series, Cosworth left with it. Over the next five years, Cosworth would focus on its Formula 1 partner, supplying for teams including Williams, Lotus, HRT, Virgin and Marussia F1.
But the economics of F1 forced those teams to all separate from the independent Cosworth over the past half-decade, with sole-partner Marussia leaving to partner with Ferrari engines this season, leaving the English-based company off the grid for the start of the 2014 season.
Due to that and other changes at Cosworth, including a management shuffle, the organization is now looking to redefine its storied commitment to auto racing, starting with a possible entry into the IndyCar Series as soon as possible.
The following post is an interview that SB Nation's Matt Weaver conducted with Cosworth CEO Hal Reisiger on Friday morning. The topics range from his timetable to join the IndyCar Series and what sort of advantages a partnership with the tour would bring over the next decade.
The full transcript has been provided below.
Matt Weaver: I very much get the impression that Cosworth is intent on returning to the global motorsport stage — not that y'all went away — but there have been a lot of changes to the company, right?
Hal Reisiger: I became the CEO seven-plus months ago and my view was that we were a strong individual business. So we expanded on that, recruiting a strong global management team and we angled out of what we would call a peripheral market –sales and marketing is part of it and it is focused on motorsports and the aftermarket.
I believe they are tied together and benefit each other. We are going to be aggressive — IndyCar being one example. I feel like, before, we were not sufficiently leveraging our complete range of capabilities, ECU management, telemetry to engine design manufacture and assembly.
From an organizational structure and management facilities, it was our perspective to provide and expand our value.
MW: You've brought up IndyCar several times as of late. How inviting is the current spec and the 2.2 liter V6 for Cosworth.
HR: We could have an immediate impact and participate immediately as well. Besides the history of winning 12 Indianapolis 500s and still have staff members involved who participated in Indy car when we were last active in the sport. IndyCar wants another supplier, Honda and GM want a competitor and we're formally speaking to them about it next week.
MW: Cosworth is obviously known for engine production but how well poised will you guys be to play the aero kit game that is arriving next season.
HR: We would typically partner with another entity on matters of aerodynamics. While we're actively involved in wind tunnels and working with aerodynamics as it involves the power train, cooling or air flow, that's not something we would try to promote as a core component. But we're definitely interested in partnering with someone to execute that aspect of competition.
MW: What is the process and time table for joining IndyCar?
HR: We have a sense of urgency out our passion and IndyCar has a sense of urgency for obvious reasons we've all heard about. When Indy wants it and other engine suppliers want it, I'm confident there is an OEM (Original Engine Manufacturer) out there who could benefit from a partnership.
Again, we're meeting with IndyCar next week and through our joint effort to sell the series and with Cosworth we can achieve a great deal in IndyCar.
MW: How important of a partner is the Indianapolis 500 for Cosworth?
HR: For us it's important. We can inject another level of enthusiasm for IndyCar as a motorsports program. And if you look at our history and our length of involvement, it looks like it has been a good partnership. Once we find an OEM, everyone will benefit and will speak to our commitment to market the Indianapolis 500.
MW: Is it too early to say which OEMs you are most likely to partner with?
HR: It would be too early. Because — out of fairness to them — we're still talking to several different OEMs. We would like to make an announcement within the year. We're committed to doing this but we want to hear from who else would like to be involved.
MW: What is the opinion of IndyCar from your ownership group? I know Gerry Forsythe particularly had a contentious, at times, relationship with the former IRL. Are they fully invested in IndyCar as well?
HR: Yes, definitely. Kevin (Kalkhoven) is actively involved as a team owner and he's committed to IndyCar. Like all team owners he wants to see the best product possible. And while Gerry is not involved as an owner, he is also very energetic about IndyCar. They are enthusiastic want to see the best product on the track.
MW: From your perspective, do you feel like IndyCar is set to enter a new period of prosperity?
HR: I think we're going to see a good product that gets a lot more global awareness in the coming years. You have Mark Miles and Derrick Walker in place — good people in the management team. They are going to help with brand exposure and I think that IndyCar is going to see a growth as a result.
MW: Why hasn't IndyCar clicked with a mass audience since the merger?
HR: In my humble opinion, it's needed better marketing. They have a good product. For those who are involved and engaged you can't deny it. IndyCar is exciting and it's a fantastic event to attend and they need to get more people exposed to it. And now you have people in place to help grow it. SBNation
02/28/14 As Cosworth ramps up for a potential comeback to IndyCar as an engine manufacturer seeking to partner with an OEM, as MotorSportsTalk first reported on Wednesday, it’s worth noting they’ve still had an IndyCar presence.
Just not in the way most realize.
Cosworth Automotive CEO Hal Reisiger described the role Cosworth currently plays in IndyCar during my conversation with him earlier this week.
“It’s more related to electronics, and is regretfully one of the best-kept secrets and it shouldn’t be," he said. “Through the new management team that has assembled an increased focus on the commercial side of the business, sales and marketing, hopefully those things won’t be secrets anymore.
“But we are the spec electronics on data acquisition. We provide the telemetry services and we’re talking about other extensions of that. We’re into another year of the program with the DW12, and we’re also contracted with Indy Lights."
Indy Lights’ new car premieres in 2015, and will begin testing later this year.
Could Cosworth aero kits be part of the equation? Perhaps, but not likely; it would potentially be something an OEM partner would need to create for IndyCar down the road.
“I don’t know that the aero kit in particular is a direct core competency," Reisiger explained. “We are certainly involved in wind tunnels and other technology that supports that development. But generally, you’ll find us more directly in powertrains and electronics."
Cosworth, as a company, has made some key acquisitions in the personnel department to support Reisiger at the top. Recent additions to Cosworth’s board include ex-Williams chair Adam Parr, and head of motorsports marketing giant Just Marketing International, Zak Brown.
Reisiger’s two other shareholders, and Directors, are ex-Champ Car heads Kevin Kalkhoven and Jerry Forsythe, who took over the company several years ago.
Reisiger said those new additions come at a time that Cosworth is refocusing its business strategy and trying to present a new unified front.
“We’re going to focus on three core markets that I think are more aligned with our brand: that would be motorsports, automotive OEM and the aftermarket," he explained.
“Technologies developed in any of those three could lend them being applicable to the other two. We have a synergy between the three, and you’ll see powertrain and electronic developments in all three.
“One of the changes I’ve made, the company has five operating corporations. But there was inefficient alignment with the markets. So I’ve created a global organization where there’s a global team, with focus and target in motorsport."
Cosworth has major offices in Mooresville, N.C., Indianapolis, In. and Torrance, Calif. in the U.S., along with Cambridge and Northampton in England. Rather than looking at each as an individual market, Cosworth seeks to present itself as a global, united front.
A meeting next week will determine the next step of Cosworth’s possible IndyCar comeback trail, and whether it will continue on the path to completion, or veers off in another direction. Tony DiZinno/NBC Sports