| Hewland Engineering Ltd. | |
|---|---|
| |
| Partner Information | |
| Based |  Maidenhead, England
|
| Founder | Mike Hewland (1957)
|
| Announced | 2013 |
| Role | Constructor |
| Official Website | Hewland |
Hewland Engineering Ltd., otherwise known simply as Hewland, are a British engineering company, famed around the racing world for their gearbox creations.[1] Founded in 1957 by Mike Hewland, Hewland currently supply major international Championships such as Formula One, the World Endurance Championship, DTM and countless others.[1]
Hewland's involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship began in 2013, when Spark Racing Technologies and McLaren Electronic Systems contracted them to develop a gearbox for the first ever FE car, the Spark-Renault SRT_01E.[2] The British firm would continue to supply gearboxes to FE after powertrain development was opened up in the 2015/16 season, having since diverged into the realm of electric vehicles themselves.[1]
Background[]
Mike Hewland, a promising engineer, began his foray into race car engineering in the mid-1950s, finding a niche in the development of gearbox units.[1] This began by cutting gears from a small unit in Maidenhead, England, although after an approach by the UDT Laystall team in Formula 2, Hewland began to manufacturer a custom four-speed gearbox.[3] Hewland would continue to develop his gearbox, using the VW Beetle design as a basis, with an increasing number of units sold as the years progressed.[3]
Gearing the World[]
In 1965 Formula One regulations changed to accept 3 litre engines, meaning a whole new set of gearboxes were required to transfer engine power to the circuit.[3] Triple World Champion and then team owner Jack Brabham commissioned Hewland to develop a gearbox for him, which would ultimately aid the Brabham team to the Championship in 1966.[3] Hewland continued to refine his design, supplying other famed F1 teams including Team Lotus, McLaren and BRM.[3]
Hewland would remain in F1 through to the present day, with interests quickly developing in other racing markets.[3] Hewland gearboxes would spread into the CanAm and World Sportscar Championship series, as well as the realm of touring cars and rallying.[1] By 2017 Hewland were employing 167 people in Maidenhead, and supplying at least one effort, if not the entire field, in a range of series, from Formula One to DTM.[1]
Formula E History[]
Hewland were first involved in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship after being approached by McLaren Electronic Systems to develop a gearbox for the first Formula E car, the Spark-Renault SRT_01E.[2] Their design, a six-speed transverse creation, would be used by the McLaren powertrain throughout the 2014/15 season, before manufacturers began to develop their own powertrains in 2015/16.[4] Hewland were, however, retained as a consultant by the majority of the FE teams, and continued to supply teams into the 2017/18 season.[1]
Products[]
Hewland have primarily focused on gearbox development for Formula E, with their design a universal element in every current FE car.
References[]
Videos and Images:
References:
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 'Hewland History', hewland.com, (Hewland Engineering Ltd., 2017), https://www.hewland.com/who-we-are/hewland-history/, (Accessed 01/02/2018)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 'McLaren to power new FIA Formula E Championship', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 01/11/2012), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2012/november/mclaren-to-power-new-fia-formula-e-championship.aspx, (Accessed 09/07/2015)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Roger James, 'The Hewland Story', vhrr.com, (The Victorian Historic Racing Register, 2003), http://www.vhrr.com/general_articles/Hewland.htm, (Accessed 01/02/2018)
- ↑ 'Eight manufacturers to enter Formula E next season', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 23/02/2015), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2015/february/eight-manufacturers-to-enter-fia-formula-e-from-second-season.aspx, (Accessed 09/07/2015)
| FIA Formula E Partners |
|---|
| Institutional |
| Formula E Holdings • Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile • ABB |
| Founding |
| BMW • DHL • Michelin • Qualcomm • Renault • TAG Heuer |
| Other |
| Aggreko • Antofagasta Minerals • Google Cloud • Julius Bär • PIF • Sabic • Saudia • TATA Communications • Tattinger |
| Spark Technical Partners (Generation 3) |
| Spark Racing Technologies • Brembo • Dallara • Hankook • Hewland • Lucid Motors • Fortescue Zero |
| Spark Technical Partners (Generation 4) |
| Spark Racing Technologies • Brembo • Bridgestone • Dallara • Marelli • Podium AT |
| Former Partners |
| 1st Round • Allianz • Bosch • CNBC • Cooper Co. • Enel • Heineken • Hugo Boss • McLaren • Modis • Rimac Automobili • Umicore • voestalpine |