Xtrac Limited
Encyclopedia
Xtrac Limited, also known as Xtrac Transmission Technology, is a British engineering company founded in 1984 by the former Hewland
engineer Mike Endean to make 4WD systems and gearboxes for rallycross
and later rally and racing cars. While still working for Hewland Endean, together with Chris Goddard, who had been working on the electronic components essential to the system, in 1983 developed the first ever so-called Xtrac 4WD system for Norwegian rallycross star Martin Schanche
.
"Xtrac started making gearboxes in the early 1980s for the then-new Group A rally cars from a lock-up behind a Chinese restaurant in Wokingham."
Today the company is based in Thatcham, Berkshire, England, and is a supplier to many branches of motor sport, including F1, IRL, Grand-Am and rally teams. In 2010 the company supplied the 1044 gearbox, developed in conjunction with Ricardo plc
, to three F1 teams: Lotus, Virgin
and HRT. This is mated to the Cosworth
CA2010 engine. Racecar Engineering, Vol 20 No 3, March 2010, Pages 31–36.
Gould Racing
, based in Newbury, Berkshire, built the one-off Gould Ford Puma for Mike Endean, which features Xtrac four-wheel-drive, and has won the Brighton Speed Trials
four times in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Hewland
Founded by Mike Hewland in 1957, Hewland is a British engineering company specialising in racing-car gearboxes. Hewland was the first company to manufacture a bespoke racing-car gearbox....
engineer Mike Endean to make 4WD systems and gearboxes for rallycross
Rallycross
Rallycross is a form of sprint style automobile racing, held on a closed mixed-surface racing circuit, with modified production or specially built road cars, similar to the World Rally Cars, although usually with about stronger engines, due to e.g. their 45 mm turbo restrictor plates. It is...
and later rally and racing cars. While still working for Hewland Endean, together with Chris Goddard, who had been working on the electronic components essential to the system, in 1983 developed the first ever so-called Xtrac 4WD system for Norwegian rallycross star Martin Schanche
Martin Schanche
Martin Schanche , a.k.a. "Mister Rallycross", is a former Norwegian motorsport contestant. He started his racing career rather late, only in 1972 when he was already 27 years old. In 1975 he won a silver medal in the Norwegian Ice Racing Championships...
.
"Xtrac started making gearboxes in the early 1980s for the then-new Group A rally cars from a lock-up behind a Chinese restaurant in Wokingham."
Today the company is based in Thatcham, Berkshire, England, and is a supplier to many branches of motor sport, including F1, IRL, Grand-Am and rally teams. In 2010 the company supplied the 1044 gearbox, developed in conjunction with Ricardo plc
Ricardo plc
Ricardo plc is a British publicly listed company named after its founder, Sir Harry Ricardo and founded on 30 June 1927 in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. The company is a leading global multi-industry engineering provider of technology, product innovation and strategic consulting...
, to three F1 teams: Lotus, Virgin
Virgin Racing
Marussia Virgin Racing, the trading name of Virgin Racing Limited, is a Russian owned Formula One racing team based in the United Kingdom and racing on a Russian licence, which made its debut in the 2010 Formula One season. It was granted entry as Manor Grand Prix on 12 June 2009, as one of four...
and HRT. This is mated to the Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
CA2010 engine. Racecar Engineering, Vol 20 No 3, March 2010, Pages 31–36.
Gould Racing
Gould Racing
Gould Racing is a British motorsport company, specialising in racing car manufacture and engineering. The company is run by David Gould, and is based in Newbury, Berkshire, England....
, based in Newbury, Berkshire, built the one-off Gould Ford Puma for Mike Endean, which features Xtrac four-wheel-drive, and has won the Brighton Speed Trials
Brighton Speed Trials
The Brighton Speed Trials, in full The Brighton National Speed Trials, is commonly held to be the oldest running motor race. The first race was held July 19–22, 1905 after Sir Harry Preston persuaded Brighton town council to tarmac the surface of the road adjacent to the beach between the Palace...
four times in 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010.