Hitech GP
News 13 Jul 2021

Rodin FZED first run at Donington with Liam Lawson | Engineering support from Hitech GP

News

NEW ZEALAND-BASED RODIN CARS UNLEASHES ITS RODIN FZED SINGLE-SEAT TRACK CAR WITH ENGINEERING SUPPORT FROM HITECH GP

The Rodin FZED made its mark at Donington Park Race Circuit in the UK with the successful completion of its first run on the renowned track, with engineering support on the day provided by Hitech GP. Witnessed by leading select press and VIP representatives close to the Rodin Cars brand, the sound of the roaring Cosworth V8 engine echoed across the facility and was reflected in the smiles of all who were present.

“Having Liam Lawson demonstrate the Rodin FZED at Donington Park is an important milestone for the car and for Rodin Cars,” says David Dicker, founder and CEO of Rodin Cars. “Our main manufacturing headquarters is established in New Zealand but we have always intended to establish a presence in the UK and Europe, and these first laps have completed that goal with a great outcome.”

“I loved opening up the Rodin FZED around a bigger track”, began Liam Lawson, Rodin Cars-backed Red Bull Junior driver in FIA Formula 2. “I’d tested the Rodin FZED at Rodin Cars’ test track in New Zealand but I’d forgotten how fast it is. But I felt comfortable straight away and could push immediately.”

Customers and enthusiasts will be able to view the craftsmanship of the Rodin FZED first hand, with the racer on display at the company’s newly established client facility at Donington Park.

Donington Park is no stranger to the screams of racing engines, but it recently echoed to the glorious howls of a naturally aspirated 675hp (503kW) Cosworth GPV8. Working up to 10,000rpm, the operatic notes from the V8 engine signalled the first laps on UK soil for the Rodin FZED single-seat track car.

“It was great to be back in the Rodin FZED,” said Liam Lawson, Red Bull Junior in FIA Formula 2 and DTM. “I’d forgotten just how fast the car is but straight away I felt comfortable and realised how manageable the car is to drive close to the limit. I didn’t want to stop and nearly did more laps than I was allowed.”

The Rodin FZED has been painstakingly developed by the team at Rodin Cars, led by CEO and founder, David Dicker. “After years of development and thousands of kilometres of testing on Rodin’s own circuits in New Zealand,” began Dicker, “we’ve established the Rodin FZED as one of the fastest open-wheel race cars in the world. More than that, we’ve also ensured that it’s easy to run, giving amateur drivers a true taste of top-level open-wheel motorsport.”

Weighing just 609kg, the Rodin FZED is powered by a 3.8-litre Cosworth GPV8 engine that produces 675bhp (503kW) at 9600rpm and 490Nm at 7600rpm. To give the Rodin FZED’s outputs some perspective, its 826kW-per-tonne power-to-weight ratio embarrasses that of a Bugatti Chiron (553kW/tonne) or even a big sports bike such as a Yamaha R1 (735kW/tonne). Indeed, to find a more impressive power-to-weight ratio, one needs to look at a current LMP1 racer or Formula 1 car.

Beyond the 0-160km/h time of five seconds, or the 300km/h top speed or, indeed, the blistering lap times, perhaps the Rodin FZED’s most impressive aspect is its reliability. Despite a screaming 10,000rpm rev ceiling, the engine is capable of 3100 miles (5000km) on 98-octane fuel before it requires a tear-down inspection. That is 3175 laps of Donington Park.
In addition to outright performance, David Dicker and the team at Rodin Cars also sought to ensure that the Rodin FZED is enjoyable and exploitable at more moderate speeds, allowing customers to build confidence and remove the fear-factor in driving the ultimate track car. Along with the Rodin FZED’s reliability, this ease of operation is critical in allowing clients to live the Formula 1 dream without the need to have a Formula 1 team at your disposal.

Demonstrating Rodin Cars’ confidence in their exquisitely built racer, the company invited a selection of the UK’s top automotive and motorsport journalists to the witness the Rodin FZED’s first laps in the Northern Hemisphere.

“You could see the journalists hanging their phones over the pitwall,” said Liam Lawson. “I think they were enjoying the Rodin FZED nearly as much as I was.”
Lawson’s next outing for Hitech GP in the FIA Formula 2 Championship is July 16-18. “It’s always good to drive a car faster than you race,” said Lawson. “These laps in the Rodin FZED will help with Silverstone coming up.”

Liam Lawson’s team, Hitech GP, is a powerhouse operation, running teams in both Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships.

Of the Rodin FZED, Hitech GP Team Principal, Oliver Oakes said,

“It’s a very cool car. It’s how real race cars should be. It’s exciting to see what David has put together into a customer car and being able to be involved with Rodin Cars and their test at Donington Park has been amazing. The quality of the Rodin FZED is clear to see and we look forward to working with Rodin Cars in the future.”

A further announcement regarding a partnership between Rodin Cars and Hitech GP will be announced after the 2021 British Grand Prix.

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