Pacenotes, September 2019
Developing more power!
SBD has been developing the 1.6L Ford EcoBoost engine over the past few years for all forms of motorsport including circuit racing, sprinting, hillclimbing and more recently, rallying…
As soon as the company started work on the engine, they discovered how good it was. Even in standard form, it easily produces over 225bhp with a huge torque curve and effectively no lag!
SBD developed a special ECU with MBE to control the direct injection and variable cams, whilst keeping in mind that the ECU needed to run other sought-after functions including launch control, traction control and full paddle shift.
The engineers also wanted the option to include secondary port injection so they contacted Turbo Technics with the aim of producing a turbo engine with a high output but without any lag. Turbo Technics provided a range of turbos to carry out testing and after the initial development program, over 350bhp and 350lbft torque was achieved with no discernible lag.
This was using a completely standard Ford engine, with only the addition of an MBE9A6 ECU, a very special high spec wiring harness and the Turbo Technics turbo!
On hearing the developments, competitor Mark Straker became interested in using the engine in his Darrian GTR rally car to replace his previously successful 2.5L Millington. He commissioned a development project to allow the engine to run within the Motorsport UK and Motorsport Ireland regulations, which included the use of an FIA specification 34mm restrictor.
During the development of the rallyspec kit, more upgraded components were added to the engine to improve durability, performance and engine response. SBD has recently achieved just under 370bhp using an unrestricted turbo but with the rally kit, 300bhp has been exceeded for the first time, with almost 370lb.ft of torque.
Straker has now started his own business, Moose Speed Race & Rally Ltd, and can be contacted directly in relation to the 1.6L EcoBoost rally kits. SBD has an on-going project with Mark to further develop the rally kit, with the aim of producing optimum performance within rally regulations at an affordable cost.
“We’re delighted with the work that has been carried out in conjunction with SBD,” Straker told Pacenotes. “It is incredible to have achieved such great figures with such a modest state of tune, and with time we hope to make additional gains with a view to turning the 1.6L EcoBoost into an established over-2000cc class engine.”
He added, “With this engine being an upgrade option for any car, be it front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, it should have a wide appeal.”
For more information, Mark can be contacted by emailing moose_speed@hotmail.com.
Reproduced with permission from Pacenotes
