“WTRAndretti is a championship winning motorsports organization,” explained Travis Houge, Vice President, General Manager, WTRAndretti. “When you have multiple manufacturers competing on one platform, winning is everything. To do that, you need to have the best technology behind you. AMETEK and its various businesses have allowed us to gain that little bit of traction over our competitors by becoming an almost one-stop shop to finding the answers to our needs – whether it is 3D scanning, fuel analysis, instrumentation, or another challenge.”

Since 2018, WTRAndretti has collaborated with SurgeX, AMETEK Land, and AMETEK Dynamic Fluid Solutions (now Bison). Most recently, they sought expertise from Creaform and Spectro Scientific.

High-tech tools for high performance vehicles

Testing wear and tear on WTRAndretti’s state-of-the-art vehicles is integral to success. However, these measurements are complex and need a highly specialized solution for proper measurement.

By using Creaform’s MetraSCAN 3D, the WTRAndretti engineering team can scan the surfaces of the vehicle to generate a 3D model with ample data to specifically identify which section of the car needs repairs or enhancements. Creaform’s technology is now an essential tool that allows WTRAndretti to build new car parts completely in-house.

This technology is especially handy during the Rolex 24 at Daytona, an annual 24-hour endurance race that takes place in January. Using the MetraSCAN 3D, the engineers are able to scan the interior of the car and assess the driver’s position in relation to components in the cockpit. Using this data, the team can produce any piece of equipment, no matter the size, to optimize the racing experience for their driver.

“Unlike other series, endurance racing is really about 24-hours of wear and tear, understanding and then optimizing those losses,” Brian Pillar, Technical Director at WTRAndretti, said. “The Creaform scanner technology helps us see that wear and tear, analyze which areas to address and which to ignore for peak performance.”

Creaform tools are such a powerful asset to WTRAndretti’s success that they are now also being used by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) to scan vehicles and ensure the car’s bodywork aligns with the manufacturers’ models.

Advanced analysis ensures endurance

During the 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona, WTRAndretti partnered with Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) to race their prototype vehicle, the Acura ARX-06 GTP, which introduced new engine hybrid technology as well as new IMSA-approved renewable fuel.

This was the debut of the ARX-06, and the HRC team didn’t know how the new fuel would perform under the rigorous 24-hour race. After a series of practice runs, their technical team discovered increased levels of fuel dilution and abnormal engine wear patterns in the engine oil that were affecting vehicle performance.

HRC turned to Spectro Scientific for an innovative, trackside solution to ongoing oil analysis. Initially, they used the SpectrOil 120C and Fuel Dilution Meter due to their fast response and ease of use. During later testing, they turned to the FieldLab 58C. This device looks at the chemistry and viscosity of the fuel, which is a great indicator for fuel dilution and lubricant integrity. In addition, it has a more robust, rugged design that makes it travel-friendly. The FieldLab proved to be the optimal choice for on-site oil analysis by HRC.

“We have a lot of data that we gather during each practice session and a lot of that data to do with the health of the engine,” said Steve Gough, Track Support Engineer at Honda Racing Corporation. “Because it is a mechanical component, there are a lot of metal parts that interact with each other, so we need to look at the physical side of things as well. We use oil testing to determine how healthy an engine is after each event and how much wear on the engine has occurred before moving forward to the next event. Spectro Scientific’s fuel analysis has become an integral part of our testing, both in-house and at-track.”

Racing ahead

WTRAndretti’s partnerships with Creaform and Spectro Scientific have greatly benefitted their organization and performance. These successful relationships have not only led our businesses to other partnerships but have encouraged the WTRAndretti team to look within the AMETEK family of businesses for further technical solutions. This includes a new partnership with AMETEK Sensors, Test, and Calibration’s Lloyd Instruments brand.

“In our sport, whoever can find and utilize the technology the quickest, and most efficiently, will be the one at the top,” concluded Houge. “Our partnership with AMETEK has become an essential tool in our toolbox. I’m excited to see where this partnership can go and continue to explore what other AMETEK channels we can capitalize on in our quest to compete against the best of the best.”