Strakka Racing

KWSP supported a leading British sports car & endurance team who were forced to develop a new door assembly for their Le Mans Prototype car in just eight weeks following a late regulation change by the FIA.

 

The Challenge

  • Complete design, manufacture and testing of a new door assembly
  • An eight week window from project launch to testing & homologation
  • A complete assembly made up of multiple materials (carbon fibre and titanium)

The Requirements

  • A complete carbon fibre door structure with titanium components
  • Readiness for FIA homologation
  • Integration with existing vehicle structure

The Approach

  • Design & Development: Following design in CAD, a complete door assembly was 3D printed in 48 hours and used for in-situ validation
  • Manufacture: The final structure was then commissioned in carbon fibre, with key complex end-use components 3D printed in titanium alloys

The Results

  • Speed: Design, development, validation, manufacture and homologation of a complete assembly in just 8 weeks
  • Value: The reduced tooling requirements and material wastage of AM reduced the overall cost of the assembly
  • Performance: A podium finish in the car’s first race

 

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