Contact: Emily Hornberger
Telephone: (610) 375-6180
Email:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PENSKE RACING SHOCKS TO SUPPLY
CAMBRIDGE INERTER TECHNOLOGY IN F1
Reading, PA — August 19, 2008 — Penske Racing Shocks, a world leader in racing damper technology, announces they have entered a multi-year license agreement with Cambridge Enterprise, the commercialization office of the University of Cambridge, England, to incorporate its patented inerter technology in suspension components for primary use in Formula One racing. The terms of the agreement allow Penske Racing Shocks to design, develop, and produce generic and team specific inerter designs as well as future embodiments and enhancements. Penske Racing Shocks has been successfully developing inerter technology with Cambridge since 2003.
In a Formula One car the inerter can be used to improve "mechanical grip", i.e. to reduce tire load fluctuations in dynamic situations. In conventional suspension design it is common to explain the role of individual components such as springs and dampers in achieving the overall goal. It is then natural to ask the question: what does the inerter do? Since the inerter is an energy storage element (like the spring), and not a dissipater (like the damper), an explanation in conventional terms is not immediately obvious. It is the fact that the inerter acts in combination with other elements (springs, dampers and masses) that the overall goal is achieved. (http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/stories/2008/McLaren/)
The inerter technology was invented and developed by Professor Malcolm Smith at the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge. A patent was filed by Cambridge Enterprise in 2001, with the first publication on the subject by Professor Smith in October 2002. Commenting on the Penske license agreement Professor Smith said, “Cambridge University Engineering Department has cooperated with Penske Racing Shocks for several years on the development of the inerter for use in motorsport. As a leading damper manufacturer and supplier of advanced technology in motorsport Penske Racing Shocks is an ideal partner to develop and supply the inerter to a wider customer base. It is extremely pleasing that we are now able to announce this agreement enabling our inerter technology to be offered to all teams in Formula One. It will be very exciting to see the further practical use and exploration of ideas which began with theoretical work in the Control Group at Cambridge University Engineering Department.”
Jim Arentz, Technical Director, Penske Racing Shocks, said “We are extremely pleased to collaborate with Cambridge University in this capacity to further serve the needs of our valued customers in the F1 community. Inerter technology, although not a new area of development in F1, is something we feel as a leading damper manufacturer adds to our portfolio of pioneered applied technologies in professional racing. The benefit of the inerter to the handling characteristics of all racing vehicles is undeniable in both theory and practice. We are confident that the ingenuity of Cambridge now combined with Penske product quality, performance, and customer service, will promote greater exposure of the inerter in Motorsport.”
For additional information, please contact:
Penske Racing Shocks
Jim Arentz, Technical Director
150 Franklin Street
Reading, PA 19602
(610) 375-6180
www.penskeshocks.com
Penske Racing Shocks has been providing custom-built, high-performance shock absorbers to all forms of racing for over 20 years. Penske’s products have won many races and national and international championships in multiple racing series, including Formula One, BTCC, ALMS, NASCAR, ICS, GARRS, DIRT, NHRA, and AMA. Penske Racing Shocks currently supplies multiple Formula One racing teams with dampers and hydraulic suspension components.
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Notes to Editors
Cambridge Enterprise Limited, University of Cambridge
Cambridge Enterprise Limited provides knowledge and technology commercialization services to University staff and students. Services include intellectual property management, bespoke marketing, negotiation of technology licenses and consultancy services. Additionally, Cambridge Enterprise provides specialist surgeries for new companies, one-to-one mentoring by experienced business people, and provides access to seed and venture capital through the Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds and Cambridge Enterprise Venture Partners.
On 1st December 2007 Cambridge Enterprise marked its first birthday as a limited company. During this first year the performance was solid in that 60 licenses and 95 consultancy contracts were closed and the company assumed the management of a portfolio of 72 companies in which it holds equity. The turnover from technology and knowledge transfer was £6.0 million of which £5.3 million (88%) was returned to the University’s academics and departments.
For further information please contact:
Shirley Jamieson
Head of Marketing
Cambridge Enterprise Limited
Tel: 01223 760 339
Email:
www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge
www.eng.cam.ac.uk