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    Dakar Rally News: IndyCar Hybrid Era Debuts at Mid-Ohio

    Dakar, GT, and British GT enthusiasts, prepare for an electrifying debut as the much-anticipated IndyCar hybrid era kicks off this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

    The Hybrid Powerhouse

    For the first time in over two decades, IndyCar cars will be packing over 800 horsepower, courtesy of a collaborative effort between Chevrolet and Honda. The current 2.2-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine is paired with a low voltage (48V) Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and an up-to-320 kilojoules-per-lap supercapacitor Energy Storage System (ESS) to create the first-of-its-kind hybrid unit.

    “We’ll bump this thing up in ’25 and ’26. So there’s a lot of runway to go with this project and this program,” – IndyCar president Jay Frye

    The hybrid system’s power output, combined with IndyCar’s regularly-equipped push-to-pass boost, adds a remarkable 120 horsepower in total. Frye dismissed any concerns about supply issues, stating, “From a supply perspective, we’re in good shape.”

    Driver Feedback and Future Potential

    While some drivers reportedly had mixed reviews on the performance of the hybrid system during a recent series test at the Milwaukee Mile, Frye emphasized that the drivers’ input has been crucial and will continue to be so in the future.

    “If someone is feeling it on ovals and others are not, maybe they need to do it a different way, possibly,” – IndyCar president Jay Frye

    Looking ahead, Frye shared that the hybrid unit’s potential horsepower range could reach up to 150 horsepower, with the possibility of it eventually replacing the push-to-pass system entirely.

    “There could even be a certain point where it completely replaces push-to-pass, where it gets to a certain point where it’s a big enough, robust enough system that we would just have the hybrid system and eliminate push-to-pass,” – IndyCar president Jay Frye

    Gear up for an exhilarating start to the IndyCar hybrid era this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, as the series takes a significant step towards the future of motorsports.

    ๐Ÿ”— Source