NEC unveiling for Drayson electric powered race car built with help from WMG

Drayson Racing Technologies and Lola will unveil an electric prototype racing car the “Lola-Drayson B12/69EV” at the Low Carbon Racing Conference at the NEC, Birmingham on Wednesday. As well as being unveiled in the Midland’s the car drew on specialist materials research by WMG researchers at the University of Warwick in Coventry.

The major partnership between Lola and Drayson to build an electric powered LMP (Le Mans Prototype) car was announced in July. With over 850 horsepower the Lola Drayson all-­‐electric sports car aims to be the fastest electric powered race car to lap a circuit.

The design team have been working with WMG at the University of Warwick to understand how to source and use once used (but beyond its normal shelf life) carbon fibre that is still very much useable.

WMG Associate Professor Kerry Kirwan said

“’I’m delighted that once again, work from WMG’s sustainable materials group is finding itself fit for purpose in a highly demanding engineering application. This draws on our own research in environmentally friendly race car technologies and will further enhance this cars already significant to the this cars green credentials. Not only will its power source be green but from an environmental aspect its reuse of carbon fibre will save a massive amount of landfill for un-­used and once-­used carbon fibre.”

WMG researcher James Meredith said ” I was delighted to be invited to apply my research on recycled carbon and natural fibre composites to a high performance environmentally friendly race car, the Lola/Drayson B12/69 EV. Our knowledge of these materials has progressed significantly over the last few years, and through appearing on this car, we hope to see sustainable materials applied throughout motorsport as it races towards a green future.“

Lola/ Drayson will be testing the prototype in the coming months in readiness for Le Mans.