Indycar delays hybrid intro
Global supply-chain difficulties with some hybrid-system components have persuaded Indycar to delay the introduction of its next-generation engines by one year.
Indycar was set to move to larger 2.4-litre twin-turbo V6s with hybrid units at the start of next season, and Chevrolet-ilmor and Honda Performance Development have been working to that deadline. Engines were originally due to begin testing in the first quarter of this year, with hybrid units from German company Mahle. But Indycar’s decision to push the engines’ debut back to 2024 means the current 2.2-litre units are to soldier on for a 12th season.
Indycar president Jay Frye said: “We are very encouraged by the progress our team and our partners have made, but an immediate decision needed to be made to ensure we are prepared for the 2023 season utilising our current 2.2-litre engine package. Thanks to our great partners at Honda and Chevrolet for working through this challenging supply-chain situation.”
Despite the supply delays for some of the components of the hybrid unit, the first on-track test of the 2.4-litre V6s will be held on 30-31 March at Sebring.
“We are proud of the hard work and level of commitment by our engine group, along with our teams and partners, in the development of the Chevrolet 2.4-litre engine for our Indycar programme,” said GM motorsports competition engineering director Mark Stielow.
HPD president and technical director David Salters said: “We have finished development and dyno testing of our new internal combustion engine, and once the hybrid-system component supply-chain issues are sorted, we’ll begin track testing of the new hybrid power unit.”