If watching Formula One racing cars makes you want to hop into your car and rev up the engine, then you are in luck – you might be actually using the technologies similar to the ones you see on racing competitions. In fact, some features of modern mass-produced vehicles trace their roots to motorsport.

You do not have to own a NASCAR vehicle to have your own racing experience. You might not know it, but your car may already have the following features that make it a “direct descendant” of the mean racing machines:

Clutch-less Manual and Automatic Transmissions

Race car drivers need to shift gears in as little time as possible. Conventional transmission technologies simply will not cut it. This is why in some races like F1, they use clutch-less manual transmission for a faster and more efficient transfer of power from the engine to the wheels. Some production cars today have similar albeit watered down features. They do not require a clutch for changing gears; the only difference is they are set to automatic transmission instead of manual. This is because ordinary drivers, unlike professionally trained race car drivers, tend to shift gears out of order through manual method.

Specialised Suspension Adjustment

Suspensions play a huge role in racing. Cars made to race need to maintain contact with the track for fuller power and engine drive. Independent, specialised suspensions are adjusted to fit the rigorous demands of car racing. Production cars, on the other hand, have similar suspension adjustments. But they are made to bring comfort and stability rather than acceleration. Some carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz release racing inspired variants of their models, like the M and AMG models. The suspensions for such models are stiffer than their regular cousins.

Disc Brakes

Powerful engines need powerful braking. Going at over 200 miles per hour, it is not easy to stop a race car using common, cast iron disc brakes. Race car builders usually employ disc brakes made from ceramic, which is lighter and more durable. These brakes help dissipate heat from the tires to make the braking mechanism more effective. Today, some luxury vehicles already have the same kind of disc brakes.

Dual Overhead Camshafts

In a production car, engines have valves that let air in and exhaust out. The camshaft does its work by facilitating the closing and opening of the valves. Racing cars need more than just a single camshaft, however. This is the reason race cars from the previous decades utilise dual overhead camshafts for better performance. Now, it is common to see mass-produced cars with this kind of feature.

Ultimately, there are many differences between a racecar and a production car. Though they may share similar technologies, they are made for different purposes. It is up to you to make the most of your vehicle’s components, especially the transmission, to feel as close to a race car as possible. The important thing is to keep it in tip-top condition for better and safer performance.

Contact us now to know how we can help you solve your car’s transmission problems.