Written by Mark MCALARY
Track Day 24th June 2024
The UOW Motorsport team focused on endurance during this track day, gradually increasing the power settings of the car to test its limits and gather valuable endurance information.
The track day start-up time was unfortunately delayed due to low fog, raising safety concerns about driver visibility. During the waiting period, we conducted calibration tests on the system and code, discovering an issue with the left wheel, which was promptly fixed.
The track layout for this day was designed by our race engineering manager, featuring a unique and intricate layout of the track to help gather information. During the track inspection, we identified a large hole that required us to adjust the layout by repositioning one of the cones to avoid the hazard.
Our first driver began their endurance run and completed several laps, collecting data on the car’s performance. In between runs we continued to adjust a few settings to understand their impact on performance. However, during running the driver reported vibrations and a strange sound. Upon inspection, it was found that the left wheel had stopped spinning, suggesting a possible sensor issue.
After recalibrating our second driver took to the track, but unfortunately the left motor issue persisted. Further investigation revealed a problem with the motor’s resolver, which indicates to the motor controller the position of the motor, allowing it to be controlled correctly. The lack of positional feedback prevented the wheel from running smoothly, and unfortunately the issue was not something that could easily be fixed at track.
It was decided that the car needed a thorough examination at the workshop to determine the root cause of the resolver issues. As such, the team packed up and headed back home straight in to making repairs. With a track day just a few days following, the team were under pressure but were able to get everything sorted for Thursday’s track day, where further endurance testing was ran to complement and expand the amount of data gained.
