Rear Wing Endplate of All LMDh Race Cars Competing in IMSA GTP Class Feature ‘Hybrid Electrified Bosch’ Branding
Bosch continues its 120-year commitment in motorsports with new agreement with IMSA
Relationship extends beyond sponsorship as Bosch is a fundamental technology collaborator for IMSA series
Bosch provides system engineering as well as electric motor, inverter, hybrid control unit and electric braking system for new LMDh technology in IMSA
LMDh hybrid system developed for scalability to meet the needs of evolving propulsion technology
SEBRING, Fla. (March 16, 2023) – At the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Bosch and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced a five-year corporate partnership to further leverage Bosch’s electronics and mobility expertise to enhance vehicle performance, improve safety and create a more equitable and robust racing experience. As the motorsports industry embraces sustainability and conservation of resources, Bosch is accelerating the development of components and systems for electrified drives that supplement the portfolio of components and services for conventional internal combustion engines. A prime example is the new Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) vehicle -North America’s first hybrid-powered prototype race car that competes for overall victories in IMSA’s Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class. Bosch Motorsport is an exclusive partner for the hybrid powertrain in each LMDh car. This new Bosch-IMSA partnership helps bring Bosch’s technology and data to life for customers, fans and stakeholders around the world. “Bosch has played a passionate role in motorsports for more than a century. From our ABS systems allowing for unbeatable braking performance, to our collection of electronics and telemetry systems that allow for data driven performance on and off the track, to our new LMDh technology for electrified racing, Bosch helps set that pace,” said Jacob Bergenske, director of Bosch Motorsport, North America. “Our new hybrid-electrified era of IMSA GTP racing would not have been possible without the substantial contributions of Bosch,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “This is the newest chapter in a decades-long partnership between Bosch and IMSA. We have worked together in lockstep as technology has advanced over the years, and the best is yet to come with our ultimate showcase of relevance, technology and sustainability in the GTP class.”Additionally, under the partnership agreement, hybrid technology will be awarded to the top 3 finishing competitors in the LMDh class at the end of each season.
Bosch Motorsport Helps Power IMSA
After a successful debut at the 2023 Rolex 24 At Daytona earlier this season, the new LMDh vehicles are set for their second race at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Bosch is the official systems engineering lead for the hybrid system which features high-cost efficiency due to standardized parts, enabling vehicle manufacturers and teams to compete under attractive conditions at endurance classics such as Le Mans, Daytona or Sebring. The hybrid system is flexible and can be combined with different vehicle and engine concepts, while still offering a high level of performance. Per current LMDh regulations, the system in drive mode delivers a permanent output of 50 kW, and up to 200 kW in recuperation mode. However, the hybrid system has been designed for scalability and is capable of higher levels of performance, enabling Bosch to meet the ever-evolving power and torque demands of racing.
Building on 120 Years of Motorsports History
1901 – Wilhelm Werner won the “Nice-Salon-Nice” car race in a 35-hp Mercedes Benz fitted with Bosch magneto ignition.1911 – Bosch began its long-term involvement in motor racing with the first official presence of its own team of technicians at key racing events.1937 – Bosch Racing Service was created making it possible to test and repair systems and equipment on site.1954 – Bosch began supplying gasoline direct injection systems and a breakerless transistor ignition system.1986 – The first race cars featuring Bosch engine control systems appeared.1988 – The first ABS system developed especially for motorsports was used at AMG.2006 – Bosch was selected as the official electronics supplier of Grand American Road Racing.2020 – Bosch was selected as the official LMDh partner.2023 – Bosch signs an official partnership with IMSA. Bosch puts innovation among the top priorities in racing, and today Bosch Motorsport develops and distributes complete electronics systems and components for use in ICE, hybrid and electric race cars worldwide. “The insights from our work in motorsports apply across our Mobility Solutions portfolio as technologies move from the racetrack to the streets,” Bergenske said. “Our hardware, software, electronics and data expertise help us provide customers with solutions that offer value and deliver on our Invented for Life brand promise.”
About the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA):
International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, as well as four one-make series: Ferrari Challenge North America, Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information, please visit www.IMSA.com and follow IMSA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Bosch:
Having established a presence in North America in 1906, today the Bosch Group employs nearly 37,000 associates in more than 100 locations in the region (as of Dec. 31, 2022). According to preliminary 2022 figures, Bosch generated consolidated sales of $15 billion in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. For more information visit www.bosch.us, www.bosch.ca and www.bosch.mx. The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 420,000 associates worldwide (as of Dec. 31, 2022). The company generated sales of $93.1 billion in 2022. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT provider, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, Industry 4.0, and connected mobility. Bosch is pursuing a vision of mobility that is sustainable, safe, and exciting. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to facilitate connected living with products and solutions that either contain artificial intelligence (AI) or have been developed or manufactured with its help. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. With its more than 400 locations worldwide, the Bosch Group has been carbon neutral since the first quarter of 2020. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 128 locations across the globe, Bosch employs roughly 84,800 associates in research and development, of which more than 44,000 are software engineers. In North America, Bosch employs approximately 3,500 associates in research and development. Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.iot.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, www.twitter.com/BoschPresse. |
