STRENGTH
IN DEPTH
More than simply a racing team, Hitech is the sum of the wide-ranging skills and experience of its people. Many have spent decades working at the pinnacle of motorsport, others bring a fresh perspective from wider industry. Together they contribute the knowledge and expertise that enables Hitech to deliver excellence both internally through its racing operations, and externally through special projects.
PERFORMANCE
DRIVEN
Motorsport is demanding and highly competitive. As our young drivers ascend the ranks of the junior formulae, the physical and mental pressures become a key factor, requiring a considered human performance approach and a nurturing environment. They also need access to the best technologies and resources that are necessary to aid their development and progression.
Human Performance
Hitech brings a comprehensive 360° sports science program addressing not only day-to-day physical training, but access to advisers specialising in nutrition, physiotherapy, sleep and recovery, mental wellbeing, and other related forms of support, to help drivers perform at the optimum level.
Our well-equipped gym features all the latest strength, conditioning, and cardio equipment, where drivers’ progression is tracked in line with a tailor-made program.
Formula 1-grade Driver Simulator
Hitech and its drivers are benefitting from our investment in the Dynisma DMG-1, a ground-breaking, world-leading, F1-grade simulator.
The DMG-1, which enables the optimisation of car setup and prepares the drivers for each specific racetrack, gives a level of realism that means every aspect of race performance can be improved in the simulator.
Programs are individually tailored to the requirements of each driver and carefully managed by dedicated engineers. Each session is interspersed with and followed by detailed analysis, benchmarking against other drivers and real on-track data, and feedback to encourage the continuous development of driving skill and consistency.
Set against clearly defined targets, the key learning outcomes are:
- Procedural protocols for starts and restarts
- The effects of actions and reactions – optimum driving techniques specific to the car and how car behaviour is influenced by the driver
- Racecraft analysis
- The physiological relationship between car and driver i.e., physical, psychological, cardiovascular, thermal
A successful simulator session is the optimum combination of all these factors.
GO WITH
THE FLOW
Hitech’s Aerodynamics Group uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyse performance and visualise air flow around its race cars. This allows the team to understand and iterate the aerodynamic setup to optimise lap time.
The conclusions are assessed in simulation and translated to the car’s race weekend setup.
Our aim was to build a contemporary aerodynamics capability that represents a new model versus traditional aero groups.
Combining youth and experience, our solid management structure with decades of experience in the interpretation of complex regulations welcomes the fresh ideas of its entry level tier in order to maximise innovation.
GROUP
DYNAMICS
Within Hitech’s Race Engineering team sits our specialist Vehicle Performance Group (VPG), which is broadly focused on the development of race car performance. The group is further comprised of a number of smaller, specialist teams in the areas of Aero Performance, Chassis/Suspension setup performance, and Vehicle Science.
The Aero Performance team is made up of trackside aerodynamic engineers who attend races and tests, and aerodynamic and software engineers based at Hitech HQ.
The group also works alongside the race engineers to fine-tune the cars to maximise performance on different circuits. This involves examining both chassis and suspension factors, including tyre performance.
The Vehicle Science team develops in-house tool sets for pre-event and post-event simulation and correlation. Central to this activity is Hitech’s Dynisma DMG-1 simulator. In 2023, Hitech was the first team in motorsport to invest in the brand-new, F1-bred, low-latency and high-bandwidth DMG-1, which set a new standard in simulator technology and offered an experience as close to reality as possible. Utilising the bespoke tool sets created at Hitech, we are able to conduct the full breadth of race car setup, race preparation and circuit familiarisation evaluations by vehicle dynamicists, numerical simulation and software engineers, and mechanical engineers. The information is then benchmarked against trackside data, both remotely in real-time and in post-event analysis.
PROOF
TESTED
The work of Hitech’s Research and Development (R&D) group helps to improve performance, mitigate component failures, ensure safety, and drive innovation. The group is experienced to the highest level in motorsport.
Component Testing
Our component testing is rooted in a rigorous, multi-faceted approach designed to ensure peak performance and structural integrity. Utilising advanced rig testing, we conduct bed plate work and torsion analysis to assess the chassis’ ability to withstand immense stresses without compromising rigidity. Suspension sweep testing, capable of handling forces up to 15 tons, provides invaluable data on the dynamic behaviour of critical components under race conditions.
These tests not only validate the design’s theoretical performance but also enhance reliability, ensuring each element can endure the punishing forces encountered on track while maintaining optimal balance and control throughout competition.
Design
Design of trackside and set-up equipment bespoke to the carrying needs of each championship.
Non-Destructive Testing
In the high-performance world of single-seater racing, every detail matters. The tiniest imperfection can be the difference between success and failure on the racetrack.
NDT is the process of inspecting, testing, or evaluating materials, components or assemblies for differences in characteristics without destroying the serviceability of the part or system. When the inspection or test is completed, the part can still be used.
Our NDT technicians inspect every car component before it heads to the racetrack, and then again on its return, checking for imperfections and defects that are not always evident to the naked eye. They use a number of technologically advanced methods to identify both flaws on the surface, and internally within the component’s composition.
Ultrasonic inspection
High frequency ultrasonic sound waves are emitted into the material through a probe. These signals are converted into electrical signals that give insights into the internal structure of a test piece and indicate the presence of a flaw.
Eddy Current
The impedance plane test method, using a localised electric current, produces a magnetic field and any defects, surface or sub-surface, are detected through changes within that field.
Magnetic Particle Inspection
Detecting surface and near surface flaws in materials utilising a magnetic field.
Dye Penetrant Inspection
With the aid of a darkroom and UV light, flaws become visible to the eye when a fluorescent dye inserted inside the part bleeds out through any cracks in the surface.
Acoustic Emission Testing
When a solid material is stressed, imperfections within the material emit short bursts of acoustic energy called “emissions”, detected by special receivers.
Thermography
Infrared imaging detects and measures small temperature differences within a wider thermal map.
Radiography
Involves using penetrating radiation on materials and products to look for defects or examine internal or hidden features.
Visual
From simply looking at a part to see if surface imperfections are visible, to using computer-controlled camera systems to automatically recognise and measure features of a component.
Code for
Performance
Software development plays an ever-increasing role in motorsport’s technological development. Hitech’s software engineers are continuously designing and creating sophisticated tools to support race car engineering with analysis and control systems.
ECU
Developing team-specific calibrations for base software.
Telemetry and Data Analysis
Designing systems that provide our race engineers with intuitive user interfaces across large datasets that allow them to take a deep dive into car performance data.
Race Strategy
Simulating different scenarios to aid decision-making during races.
Simulation and Modelling
Crucial tools for aiding car development and designed in close collaboration with our aerodynamicists and vehicle dynamicists.
Modern analytics
Hitech uses a combination of machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and user-centred design to provide cloud-based platforms for data analysis. Each of the four modern analytics pillars: descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics helps the team to understand the data captured across each championship and use it to maximise performance.
Engineered
for Strength
Our composites group bring extensive experience in the development of lightweight composites for the motorsport sector. They create high-quality structural and non-structural carbon composites to suit the specific requirements of each championship Hitech competes in, through end-to-end design, engineering, tooling production, and manufacture.
Carbon composites are used for strength, weight, flexibility, and impact absorption characteristics in areas such as the monocoque, suspension, underfloors, brake ducts, and aerodynamic devices.
A STRONG
FINISH
Striking the right balance between a car that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is quick is no easy feat. Everything that touches a race car has an impact on performance – including the paint or contemporary alternatives. Our coatings need to be lightweight, durable and meet exact tolerances to suit engineering requirements, yet be visually appealing – up close and on-screen. Above all, they need to be finished to perfection as befits the standards of premier motorsport.
We embrace that challenge at our dedicated paint facility, working closely with our racing groups to apply paint and vinyl wrap technologies, as well as expert know-how, to the specific needs of each championship.
Alongside specialist preparation equipment and multiple spray booths, we’ve invested in state-of-the-art digital printing and cutting machinery.
Most importantly in such a fast-paced environment, our 100% in-house workflow means that our processes are seamless, bringing efficiencies in cost, turnaround time, and logistics.
