Cologne 6th November 2007
Professional Motorsport World Expo Engine Innovation Of The Year: Flybrid/Xtrac/Torotrak KERS
At a gala dinner in front of 1000 motorsport professionals Flybrid Systems Managing Partner Jon Hilton collected the prestigious Professional Motorsport World Expo award for Engine Innovation Of The Year.
Decided by a distinguished panel of senior industry figures the award represents a huge vote of confidence in the new energy recovery system developed by Flybrid Systems and their engineering partners Xtrac and Torotrak.
In accepting the award Hilton remarked that a huge amount of progress had been made with system development during 2007 but that significant challenges still lay ahead, in particular the transfer of the technology to road cars.
Dick Elsy, chief executive of Torotrak, added: “Our three businesses have applied their combined knowledge and technical capabilities to deliver an innovative solution to the challenge presented to the industry by the FIA. What is really exciting about this project is that the possibilities beyond motorsport are almost endless.”
Graham Heeps editor of Professional MotorSport World and one of the judges said: "Flybrid, Torotrak and Xtrac are on course to succeed where others have failed by delivering an efficient yet safe flywheel energy recovery system for applications on the racetrack and beyond."
The Professional Motorsport World judges were:
• Michael Andretti, CEO, Andretti Green Racing • Ulrich Baretzky, head of engine technology, Audi Sport • Ian Bickerton, team principal, Creation Autosportif • Jost Capito, director, Ford TeamRS • Trevor Carlin, co-founder, Carlin Motorsport • Tim Edwards, Team principal FPR • Jonas Jarlmark, technical director, Flash Engineering • Armin Schwarz, team principal, All German Motorsports • Marc Van Dalen, team principal, Kronos Racing • Graham Heeps, editor, Professional Motorsport World • Roland Schedel, editor-in-chief, Auto Technology • David Tremayne Freelance motorsport writer, Member of the 'Guild of Motoring Writers' • Kim Wolfkill, publisher, MSN Autos
From left to right: Jon Hilton, managing partner Flybrid Systems, Chris Brockbank, business development manager Torotrak, Martin Halley, chief engineer Xtrac and Graham Heeps, editor Professional Motorsport World