Delphi Renews Successful Motorsport Cooperation with Peugeot

Collaboration between Delphi and Peugeot leads to endurance racing success using standard road car fuel injection, engine management and charge air cooling systems



PARIS — Following the success of Peugeot’s two RCZ race cars at the 2010 ADAC 24-hour endurance competition at the Nürburgring, Delphi Automotive and Peugeot have extended their motorsport cooperation.

In addition to the 2011 ADAC 24-hour event, the team of largely-standard RCZs will also compete in the D1T category of the ten-race VLN championship. The two team cars are powered by Peugeot’s 2.0l HDi diesel engines with virtually standard Delphi fuel injection systems and Delphi powertrain cooling.

Last year, the two Peugeot RCZs achieved an impressive first and third in-class at the ADAC 24-hour endurance race, succeeding against more highly-modified cars and demonstrating remarkable reliability. This year’s cars will use essentially the same specification as the 2010 cars with a few modifications including new wheels, brakes, tires and aerodynamics. Additionally vehicle weight is reduced to about 1,150kg.

The key change to the standard engine is an increase in turbo boost pressure, lifting the torque from 340Nm to 400Nm and the power from 120kW to 150kW. Even with this extra boost, Peugeot has validated the production Delphi charge air coolers and compact aluminum radiators to meet the demanding performance specifications.

Fueling is provided by Delphi’s production 2,000 bar common rail system with Multec® balanced-valve fast servo-solenoid injectors, one of Europe’s most popular high-performance fuel injection systems. The only significant upgrade required was to change the nozzle definition, optimizing the spray pattern to suit the increased swirl created by the higher boost levels. The revised configuration also increases maximum fuel flow, contributing to the increase in power and torque.

The standard fuel pump is retained without modification, as is the ECU, which is a rare occurrence on a race car. Delphi modified the ECU software to allow Peugeot to re-calibrate the engine mapping to suit the demands of endurance racing with the re-tuned engine.

“Endurance motorsport is the ultimate durability test,” said John Fuerst, Delphi’s general manager, diesel engine management systems. “We are delighted that the quality of Delphi’s technology and manufacturing has helped Peugeot win in this highly competitive environment. We are looking forward to competing again with Peugeot in 2011.”

The TEAM PEUGEOT RCZ NOKIA opened the 2011 season with a second place finish in the D1T Class at their first event and an outstanding one-two finish in their second race.

Delphi is one of the largest suppliers of advanced diesel technologies for all sizes of vehicles and has achieved several ‘firsts’ including twin valve Electronic Unit Injectors for heavy duty applications and, more recently, direct acting injectors for advanced light duty applications. And Delphi’s thermal systems are at the forefront of new thinking on HVAC and powertrain cooling architectures, system efficiency, comfort and refinement.

About Delphi

Delphi is a leading global supplier of electronics and technologies for automotive, commercial vehicle and other market segments. Operating major technical centers, manufacturing sites and customer support facilities in 30 countries, Delphi delivers real-world innovations that make products smarter and safer as well as more powerful and efficient. Connect to innovation at www.delphi.com.