Ganassi WINS 12 Hours of Sebring with full PFC carbon brake package.

The No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team and PFC Brakes made sportscar history this past weekend with a WIN at the 62nd 12 Hours of Sebring, the oldest sportscar race in the United States. Ganassi’s Ford EcoBoost-Riley Daytona Prototype was equipped with PFC’s monobloc calipers and PFC’s continuous wound carbon brake discs and pads, 100% PFC designed and manufactured, incorporating new technologies unique to the 64 year history of this icon of endurance races.

The Ganassi team is the only team in racing to have won the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, and now the 12 Hours of Sebring. The team also switched to the Ford EcoBoost DP motor during the offseason, giving Ford their first overall Sebring win in 45 years. The DP was driven by Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, and Marino Franchitti who took the checkered flag after 12 hours of racing.

PFC Brakes patented continuous fibre Carbon-Carbon disc and pads along with ZERODRAG™ calipers gave the Ganassi team the braking advantage with the best possible package on the track. The technology behind the Carbon-Carbon design is world-class, made from a continuous three-dimensionally wound high-density super modulus carbon fibre. The disc provides better higher burst strength, better thermal conductivity and cooling properties, better friction stability, and better cold friction for restarts without incident.

Before this year the Grand-Am and the American Le Mans series merged under NASCAR’s IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, putting the Ganassi team at the Sebring race for the very first time in their 25-year history.

“We brought a lot of upgrades here to Sebring,” said Pruett, “and the hard work we put in since January really paid off.”

With over 30 lead changes throughout the race, the 62nd year of the 12 Hours of Sebring proved to be one of the most competitive and demanding. With 20 minutes left in the race, a caution flag brought the field together, giving another challenge to the Ganassi team. With their Ford DP and PFC Brakes package, Franchitti had a 4.682 second lead victory across the finish line.

PFC’s full carbon-carbon disc brake package featuring ZERODRAG™ calipers are once again proven to be able to handle the most intensive endurance tracks for the best racing teams in the world. PFC lives by their standards and their customers – NO COMPROMISES™.

Reinforcing its position as a leader in the design and manufacture of competition brake systems, PFC Brakes has been chosen as official brake supplier to Renault Sport Technologies for its new Clio R.S. R3T rally car.  Complying with FIA R3 regulations, PFC Brakes’ pads, discs and calipers incorporate a number of key innovations, such as piston cap insulators to deliver exceptional performance on tarmac and gravel whilst still achieving the stringent cost and technical requirements set for the category.

With the Clio R.S. 200 EDC’s turbocharged 1618cc engine generating more power than the existing R3 car, PFC Brakes’ engineers set out to develop a durable brake system to withstand the higher loads and temperatures generated. Innovations, typically found in the highest levels of motorsport were incorporated to deliver the high performance specified.  Examples include piston cap insulators that reduce temperature transfer to the brake fluid by as much as 55˚C thus minimising risk of boiling fluid.  Larger and wider front discs are specified for tarmac to improve heat dissipation, even under increased loads such as those experienced on long tarmac stages.

PFC Brakes’ engineers specified a derivative of its proven ZR34 caliper; the forged monobloc aluminium caliper offering the best blend of weight and stiffness. Clever design also enabled PFC Brakes to offer a brake pad with a larger radial depth, providing a larger contact area to deliver better stopping power than the standard size typically used by competitors.

Testing across a variety of surfaces led PFC’s engineers to determine that due to the wide operating window of its pads, just two PFC compounds can satisfy the demands of drivers of all abilities on all surfaces. Both the chosen compounds deliver improved bite, modulation and release characteristics with the one of the versions offering particular resistance to wheel locking. To enable drivers to use the brakes right from the start of a stage, PFC specified brake pads designed to work at low temperatures and the unique metallic matrix construction ensures consistency for the duration of a stage, further inspiring driver confidence.

The announcement to supply Renault Sport Technologies follows PFC Brakes’ selection as official brake partner to Porsche for its Supercup chassis earlier this year. “We are delighted to be nominated by Renault Sport Technologies for such an important car,” says PFC Brakes Europe’s managing director Peter Babbage. “Together with Renault Sport Technologies, PFC Brakes has created a competitive and affordable rally brake package ideally suited to competitors in the R3 category that will inspire confidence, whatever the surface.”

PFC Brakes Europe has announced that the Andreani Group is its new Italian distributor of car and motorcycle brake parts, for both road and motorsport use. Headed by former motocross rider and suspension expert Giuseppe Andreani, the company will use its famed expertise to provide PFC Brake Europe’s Italian customers, on both two and four wheels, with local sales and technical support.

Whilst the Andreani Group is best known for its involvement in motorcycling, the firm now has a substantial presence in four-wheeled motorsport with technical support trucks and technicians attending a range of motorsports in Italy from shows, rallies, circuit races, hill climbs and off-road events.

To ensure the shortest lead times, the Andreani Group based in Pesaro, will stock brake pads, discs and associated parts at its massive facility from where it distributes other renowned performance brands such as Öhlins, Samco, Marchesini and Termignoni. “Andreani Group commands huge respect in Italy and is known for the high level of technical support it offers its trade and private customers,” says Peter Babbage, PFC Brakes Europe’s managing director. “Its knowledge of vehicle dynamics will be particularly relevant when supporting customers.”

2014 will see PFC Brakes Europe further expand its motorsport and road ranges for both cars and bikes. Nominating additional specialist distributors is the latest stage to support growth that has included being selected as a supplier to the Porsche Supercup, with new series announcements imminent. “Our European headquarters have grown significantly in the last six months with two new account managers providing technical support for motorsport, automotive and fleet customers across Europe,” adds Babbage. “With other significant announcements in the coming months, we are creating a robust infrastructure for all customers, wherever they are.”

Performance Friction recently unveiled their new “PFC” logo. The new logo embodies a fresh look and feel that is a more accurate reflection of Performance Friction’s corporate identity. The third generation logo has evolved with new purpose and meaning, adopting the name their friends and customers know them by.

While President of Performance Friction Don Burgoon was at a brake test with a premier customer, it became clear that the change to “PFC” wasn’t a new name at all — rather, a formal acceptance of a name the market already calls them.

“Now that is PFC” an excited test engineer said to Don about the confirmed positive results of PFC’s Zero Drag Brakes. “Yes, we are still Performance Friction,” says Burgoon, “but in Germany, Japan, Europe and America, our friends call us PFC.”

A logo is part of a company’s culture and identity, and PFC designed their new mark with this in mind. During the logo creation process, a company-wide poll was taken to aid the decision and PFC employees and customers shared their opinions on the different designs.

“It was exciting to see customers take part in the change,” says Marketing Director Nina Burgoon. “It showed how passionate PFC employees and customers are about the brand.”

With such a valued title, Performance Friction feels that this change will resonate with PFC customers worldwide. Viewing the change is more of an “official” adoption of a name they have worn proudly for years.

“For many in the racing markets worldwide, PFC is Performance Friction Brakes,” says Motorsports Director Darrick Dong. “From the racing viewpoint, PFC is a brand already recognized as a leader in design, manufacturing capabilities, and service for race teams in many countries. There’s a high level of confidence and trust with the PFC brand.”

PFC has been providing customers with high quality brake systems as the leader in race brake technology for decades. The PFC logo aims to reflect their bright, dynamic future and their quest to continually deliver innovative brake solutions to market. The excitement for the new logo is pushing Performance Friction into an even stronger future than before.

Performance Friction Corporation wins the 2011 Most Innovative New Motorsport Product of the Year Award

Don Burgoon, President of Performance Friction Corporation, received the award for the Most Innovative New Motorsport Product from Soheila Kimberley, Publishing Director of RACE TECH magazine at the RACE TECH World Motorsport Symposium. Since being released at the start of 2010, the ZR43 Zero Drag caliper has been found on a number of winning cars in NASCAR Cup including Jamie McMurray’s Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, winner of the prestigious 2010 Daytona 500.

Don Burgoon paid special thanks to the number of key individuals who were responsible for developing the ZR43 Zero Drag brake caliper. “I am accepting this award on behalf Nihal Murthy, Jim Vorberger, Darin Cate, Bill Bracken, Peter Babbage, Scott Paul, and Darrick Dong who have worked so hard on perfecting the ZR43 Zero Drag caliper which has proven to be so successful from the time we released it. But most of all I would like to thank our motivation—the racers—who are always trying to make the car quicker. Thanks to them.”
At the same event, Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer at Red Bull Racing, was presented with the Dino Toso award for the Racecar Aerodynamicist of the Year. On accepting the trophy, he gave special thanks to his team, particularly Peter Prodomou, Head of Aerodynamics.

“I am very pleased to accept this reward on behalf of everyone at Red Bull Racing, particularly Peter Prodromou, following our successful season in 2010. It is especially pleasing to be honored by one’s peers.”

The award for the Race Engine Designer of the Year was presented to Thomas Laudenbach for the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid which has proved to be extremely competitive since its inaugural race at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The heart of the system features the ingenious Flywheel Storage System developed by Williams Hybrid Power.
“The entire team behind the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be delighted to have won this award,” said Laudenbach on receiving the trophy, “as it recognises the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes in engineering this hybrid car that has been so competitive from its first race.”

In its sixth year, the RACE TECH World Motorsport Symposium again attracted at the highest level speakers and delegates from around the world. John Iley, Head of Aerodynamics at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, who has been Chairman of the Aerodynamics/Vehicle Dynamics Day from the start, was once again the Chairman for the day while the Racing Engine Day was chaired by Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Technology at Audi Sport. Lord Paul Drayson, team owner of Drayson Racing, and Martin Whitmarsh, Chairman of the Formula One Teams Association and CEO of McLaren Racing, gave the keynote speeches on the two days. Other speakers included Gilles Simon, the FIA’s Head of Electronics and Powertrain, Pete Spence, Vice President and Technical Director, Toyota Racing Developments, Ben Bowlby, Technical Director, Ganassi Racing and Mark Page, Chief Scientist, Swift Engineering.