SKF bearings selected for hybrid race car

Zytek Engineering has chose SKF to supply customised and standard deep-groove ball bearings for the electric motor generator unit and intermediate shaft in the new Ginetta-Zytek GZ09HS racing car. The car, manufactured by Zytek Engineering and managed by Corsa Motorsport, is the believed to be first racing car to feature an advanced alternative-fuelled hybrid propulsion system. It has the ability to run on either one or both of two propulsion systems - a normally-aspirated V8 petrol engine and a 35kW electric motor powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery - which can be recharged using a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS).

The GZ09HS has received final homologation from FIA and has been closely inspected by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), which describes it as a very sophisticated car.

A remarkable achievement for the new GZ09HS took place earlier in 2010 in Lakeville, Connecticut, USA, when it took the first ever podium position for such a hybrid car at an American Le Mans Series race.

Zytek is a British engineering company capable of providing major vehicle manufacturers with advanced power train and chassis control systems. The company has lately been involved in the design, development and manufacturing of innovative hybrid and electric drive trains.

SKF continues to provide engineering services to Zytek and the two companies are now ready to work on the development of the next generation of electric motors, which represents a novel energy efficient power source in the field of motor sport.