Racing Drivetrains & Components
What are the components of a racing drivetrain?
A drivetrain consists of the parts of a race car that work together with the engine to move the wheels and get the vehicle in motion. This includes the transmission, differential, driveshaft, axles, CV joints, and wheels.
Which is better for racing, a light flywheel or a heavy flywheel?
This depends on the reaction you're looking for in your race car.
- A heavy racing flywheel keeps the rotational speed of the engine going and assists in RPM recovery when you let up on the accelerator pedal, but it can lessen your fuel economy.
- A light racing flywheel offers a quick response time during acceleration and deceleration, but you’ll need more torque to accelerate at a launch (such as a restart).
Is an automatic or manual transmission better for racing?
If you're running a road course or autocross, a manual transmission gives you more control over your gear changes on the corners. In drag racing, an automatic transmission is superior due to faster internal shifting on straightaways.