I joined Neil Brown Engineering in 1989 when electronics got here into motor racing and engine administration methods grew to become more and more standard. My brother-in-law already labored right here and I’d been serving to him out a little bit bit as a newly certified electronics engineer, so Neil provided me a job. I mentioned, ‘I’ll do it for a couple of years to see a little bit of the world.’ That was 35 years in the past!
Now we have a core of workers who’ve labored right here for 30-plus years along with Neil and so they’re nonetheless collectively now he’s gone, with the identical values in place and the identical need to succeed. In that respect, issues haven’t modified that a lot. We simply picked up the items that Neil used to do and all people has taken on a bit extra.
Though now we have labored within the British Touring Automotive Championship with West Surrey Racing and Speedworks Motorsport – and previous to that with Crew Dynamics – with nice success throughout the hybrid era that concluded this year, we don’t get too concerned in electrical automobiles and keep true to our core experience with inside combustion engines.
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Though the hybrid system needed to work with the IC engine within the BTCC, the 2 have been really pretty separate. There are some issues now we have needed to do to accommodate the hybrid, similar to introducing a blip on downshifts to take care of the electrical motors, however as Cosworth was the provider and it’s not our space of specialism, there’s little or no we needed to handle.
I first labored with WSR throughout its time as a number one crew in Method 3; we each went our separate methods after which I ended up working with them once more in touring automobiles. The important thing individuals are all the identical, we’ve identified one another for a very long time and so they belief me to make sure the engine is working to its most, as I belief them to verify the chassis is. At race weekends, I verify the engine knowledge after every session to make sure we’re leaving nothing on the desk.
NBE has at all times thought of the BTCC as an vital championship, just because it’s high-profile within the UK. Extra folks know us by means of our involvement with BTCC than from our days in F3, for instance, so it’s at all times been vital to us to ensure that we’re concerned with supporting our groups and are aggressive.
NBE engines helped Jake Hill to grab his first BTCC title in 2024
Picture by: JEP
So far as the long run is worried, we’re led to a point by producers. And that’s all up within the air as a result of they don’t appear to be in unison on how they need to transfer ahead. Some declare they’ll stick with the ICE, some are saying they’re going to different codecs. Till they determine, it makes issues troublesome for NBE to strategise.
Because of this, we’re forging our personal manner as we attempt to shield our conventional markets wherever potential. If producers do determine to cease making IC engines, it might imply that we produce one ourselves that enables us to proceed the format.
On our half, there’s no ideas of ‘issues are getting a bit gradual, we’ll take into consideration winding it up’. We’re transferring ahead and we’ll tackle new challenges as they arrive. Possibly going to hydrogen ultimately, or possibly simply sticking with the historics, no matter markets come alongside.
I see the ICE period persevering with for a while to return. What’s present now will grow to be classics
We’re pushed by our market and we’ve at all times undertaken to be as aggressive as potential. If meaning studying new processes or protecting updated with manufacturing processes, take a look at gear or no matter it might be, we do it.
In the end, I see the ICE period persevering with for a while to return. What’s present now will grow to be classics, which has grow to be a giant a part of our enterprise. We’ve proven our abilities in producing engines which we nonetheless service at the moment, and that has produced extra customized at the same time as we’ve misplaced conventional F3 through the years.
So long as there may be demand for combustion racing, I wish to suppose that NBE can be on the forefront. That’s definitely what we’re planning for.
Harrison says NBE has each intention of doubling down on its dedication to ICEs
Picture by: JEP