WSR are extremely pleased to announce the extension of the team’s partnership with 3D printing specialists Midlands 3D.
The Staffordshire-based organisation offer a range of 3D-printing technologies including industry-leading HP Multi-Jet Fusion (MJF) technology to produce strong, durable components from their in-house manufacturing facility.
A wide range of parts from ducting to bracketry as well as workshop tooling and set-up equipment will aid the BMW 330e M Sport that will compete in the BTCC in search of a 17th overall title this year.
In total more than 100 3D-printed components have been used; an increase on previous seasons, following a winter programme of performance-related upgrades that Midlands 3D has been a key part of.
In line with the BTCC’s adoption of electric-hybrid powertrain technology in 2022 plus a switch to 20 per cent sustainable at the same time, Midlands 3D’s use of sustainable materials – such as recycled filaments and HP’s High Reusability PA12 nylon – in their production processes helps WSR to move towards a less environmentally-impactful way of working.
With reduced lead times and increased design flexibility on components compared to more traditional manufacturing processes, and a reduced reliance on an increasingly fragile supply-chain, 3D printing has become increasingly popular for motorsport and the wider automotive industry.
The WSR-run Team BMW race cars of Colin Turkington and Adam Morgan plus the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 3 Series of Jake Hill will use components produced by Midlands 3D throughout the 2024 BTCC season.
The company’s branding will appear prominently on the front bumpers of the two Team BMW cars.
The BTCC kicks off at Donington Park on April 27-28 and features a 10-round season at the UK’s best racetracks. Every race is shown live and uninterrupted on ITV channels in high definition.
Carl Mitchell, Sporting & Operations Manager, WSR, said: “We’re thrilled to continue this technical partnership with Midlands 3D after two successful years. Using parts produced by Multi-Jet Fusion technology has reduced the lead time on the relevant components, through the use of HP’s High Reusability PA12 – improved the sustainability of what we use to build and prepare our championship-winning BMWs. Midlands 3D’s ingenuity and fast production turnaround times have made them a key part of our programme of winter upgrades that are now being track-tested on our BMW race cars.”
Paul Moloney, Managing Director, Midlands 3D, said: “Our partnership over the past three seasons with WSR has seen a significant increase in the use of our capabilities and we’re proud to support such a prestigious and successful team. We’re really demonstrating the versatility of the technology, the materials and our ability to produce race-ready parts with super quick-lead times.”
