Nexteer Automotive Announces Sponsorship of Fiat Abarth Racing for 2015-2016
Nexteer is providing race-specific steering customisation to the Fiat Abarth race cars and supporting European driver visibility in North America stock car racing
PARIS, France. – Nexteer Automotive, a tier one automotive supplier committed exclusively to wheel-to-wheel advanced steering and driveline systems, is continuing its support of the Fiat Abarth Racing Trofeo Abarth Europe and Italia racing series through 2015 and 2016.
Building on the success of its partnership with Fiat Abarth in 2014, the steering systems provider also entered into a partnership for the 2015 NASCAR Euro Whelen Series (NWES). The Nexteer Road to Daytona program supports NWES champions in NASCAR North American race series to earn the right to compete at NASCARS highest levels.
Nexteer’s electric power steering (EPS) system delivers optimum power density and efficiency, both attributes which make the system ideal for racing applications. The technology is complemented by the company’s knowledge of vehicle integration, and its direct focus on ride and handling makes its products suitable for the most advanced high-performance vehicles in the world.
Nexteer Automotive has developed its motorsport credentials further still in 2015, in its role of partner to NASCAR, one of the most challenging competitions in North America. Its strong commitment to worldwide competitions is a key part of the company’s strategy, and its relationships with organizations such as NASCAR and Fiat Abarth Racing are set to grow, year-on-year.
One of the most important factors for Fiat Abarth Racing drivers is having a car which responds to their specific preferences and Nexteer works closely with them to customize its EPS systems to deliver more agile steering for enhanced responsiveness, maneuverability and a high-performance feel. Nexteer ride and handling engineers use intelligent control algorithms and their own expertise to tune the “695 Assetto Corse”, Fiat Abarth race cars’ EPS systems, working in cooperation with the Fiat Abarth Racing Technical team. This combination of technological and human intelligence allows Nexteer to create the custom set-ups required for this demanding application.
“We really enjoyed working with Fiat Abarth in 2014 and 2015 and the results on track are evidence of our successful partnership. We’re proud that Fiat Abarth has chosen Nexteer for on-track support through until the end of 2016 and look forward to seeing our advanced steering systems perform at their best on these demanding circuits again,” said Laurent Bresson, president and global COO. “The racing Fiat Abarths are equipped with our industry-leading electric power steering system and our engineers will continue to work with the drivers ahead of the races to customize the Fiat Abarth Racing cars to suit their particular preferences. This sponsorship agreement shows Nexteer’s commitment to Automotive, Motorsports and a great way to promote Nexteer brand.”
“Nexteer innovates and engineers its products to deliver superior performance both on and off the track,” said Guilherme Pizzato, Nexteer Automotive Managing Director – Europe Division. “By offering our customers total in-house development and integration of software, hardware and electronics, Nexteer is ideally placed to ensure its EPS systems provide the characteristics that are most important to the end user, namely optimum feel and handling. Our advanced steering systems are known and respected for innovations in driver interface, safety, performance and reliability.”
Nexteer’s collaboration with Fiat Abarth (and at the same time Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) Group, of which Abarth is a part) extends well beyond its important sponsorship of the racing series. It also supplies the steering systems for many of their popular vehicles, including the Fiat 500, one of the best-selling cars in Europe.
The company prides itself on having full control and development of its algorithms, a result of its in-house capabilities, which allow the company precise control of all the steering variables and the ability to deliver the steering feel and performance output demanded by a full range of vehicles, from full-size trucks, to compact cars, to performance vehicles.
For more information on the Fiat Abarth 2015 Racing Season, visit http://racing.abarth.com/en/trophy-abarth-europe/.
ENDS
ABOUT Trofeo Abarth Selenia Europe.
At the seventh season, Abarth is once again a key player on the race tracks with the accessible costs and outstanding performance of the Fiat Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Evoluzione, and Fiat Abarth 500 Assetto Corse.
In 2015 with 20 cars on average per race the Trofeo Abarth Selenia is living a second youth, bringing emotions, passion and performance on some of the best tracks in Europe, namely Monza, Imola and Mugello in Italy, Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, Sachsenring in Germany.The Scorpion brand will remain focused on up-and-coming talents who will be tackling a great racing season behind the wheel of their small, accessibly priced, high performing cars.
ABOUT NEXTEER
Nexteer Automotive (HK:1316) is a multi-billion dollar global steering and driveline business solely dedicated to electric and hydraulic steering systems, steering columns and driveline products for original equipment manufacturers. The company is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Its 11,000 workforce serves more than 50 customers in every major region of the world. The company has 21 manufacturing plants, five regional engineering centres and 10 customer service centers strategically located in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Nexteer Automotive’s customers include BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota, and PSA Peugeot Citroen, as well as automakers in India, China, and South America. www.nexteer.com
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CONTACT
Caroline Holmes
Torque
0207 952 1070
cholmes@torqueagencygroup.com
Piotr Dembiński
Nexteer Automotive Europe
+48 797-705-317 (mobile)
piotr.dembinski@nexteer.com
