Advanced Engine Research
Encyclopedia
Advanced Engine Research, Ltd. (commonly known by the abbreviation AER) is an auto racing
engine
manufacturer based in Basildon
, Essex
, England
. Established in 1997, AER has developed winning engines for sports car
, rallying
, and open wheel racing.
Since 1997, AER has developed five different complete engine, either built from scratch or heavily modified from production units, for customers, with varying configurations and applications, although most are used exclusively in sports car racing
.
road car engine tuned for the Supertouring
regulations, it was used by Ray Mallock, Ltd. in the works Nissan Primera
in the British Touring Car Championship
from 1997 to 1999, taking the manufacturers title in 1998 and 1999, and the 1999 drivers title
with Laurent Aïello
at the wheel.
The engine was also used in the Crawford Racing Nissans in the Swedish Touring Car Championship
, taking the title in 2000 with Tommy Rustad
. With the demise of Supertouring, the AER-tuned SR20 was used in the short-lived World Series Light, a junior division to the Nissan World Series. This engine is no longer in use.
developed from a production Nissan VQ engine
. Initially built to 3.0 L, the P14 was homologated
for use in sportscars fitting in the SR2 category of the FIA Sportscar Championship
. Engines in this series were required to be at a maximum of 3000 cc and based on production units.
In 2002, the P14 was offered for use by the World Series by Nissan World Series
, but was dropped in favour of a 3.5 L version developed by Solution F when it became the World Series by Renault
. The P14 has fallen out of use in international competition, but can still be seen in the Italian Prototype Championship in the CN4 class.
, based on their K-Series production unit for their entrance into sports car racing. However, unlike the P14, the P07 was a smaller 2.0 L inline-4, powered by a Garrett
turbocharger
, that could drive the engine to 500 hp (over 370 kW). Under the MG badge, the P07 was actually known as the MG XP20, yet MG's later exit from sports car racing led to the name being dropped.
The P07 is still in use in sports car series such as the American Le Mans Series
and Le Mans Series
, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans
, in the LMP2 class. In 2003, an evolution kit raised the P07's power to 550 hp (410 kW).
classes as well as offer itself a wide variety of options. The P32T V8 engine
is actually able to be built from a range of 3.2 to 4.0 L (the maximum size allowed by 24 Hours of Le Mans
rules), although it is currently used in a 3.6 L form configuration. Two Garrett turbochargers are used to bring the engine to its maximum allowable power output. In 2007, the P32T was upgraded with a direct injection system. A naturally aspirated variant, known as P32N, was also considered but never developed.
Dyson Racing
and Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport initially used the P32T in 2006, while in 2007 Courage Compétition
has become a customer while Team Cytosport have taken over Dyson's former AER-powered prototype.
, Mazdaspeed
. Although limited to 2.0 L displacement and using a single turbocharger, just like the P07, the MZR-R shares nothing from its predecessor, instead including some elements of the production Mazda MZR engine
, including the DISI electronic fuel injection
system.
B-K Motorsports of the United States debuted the MZR-R at the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring
, with AER planning to offer the MZR-R customers in 2008.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
manufacturer based in Basildon
Basildon
Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Established in 1997, AER has developed winning engines for sports car
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
, rallying
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
, and open wheel racing.
Products
AER has developed a wide variety of technical services for customers, including design, manufacturing, and testing of engine products, as well as electrical hardware and software through their LifeRacing division.Since 1997, AER has developed five different complete engine, either built from scratch or heavily modified from production units, for customers, with varying configurations and applications, although most are used exclusively in sports car racing
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
.
SR20
Evolution of the Nissan SR20Nissan SR engine
The Nissan SR engine is a 1.6 L, 1.8 L, or 2.0 L straight-4 4-stroke internal combustion gasoline engine manufactured by Nissan Motors. It features an aluminum head and aluminum block with steel sleeves in selected models and features a DOHC 4-valve design, with variable valve timing...
road car engine tuned for the Supertouring
Supertouring
Super Touring, Class 2 or Class II was a motor racing Touring Cars category defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile for national touring car racing in 1993. It was based on the "2 litre Touring Car Formula" created for the British Touring Car Championship in 1990...
regulations, it was used by Ray Mallock, Ltd. in the works Nissan Primera
Nissan Primera
The Nissan Primera is a medium sized family car produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan for the Japanese domestic and European markets.-Nissan Primera P10 :...
in the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
from 1997 to 1999, taking the manufacturers title in 1998 and 1999, and the 1999 drivers title
1999 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1999 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season was won by Laurent Aïello in his debut season driving for the Nissan works team, with team mate David Leslie in second place....
with Laurent Aïello
Laurent Aïello
Laurent Aïello is a race car driver.In 1990 he won the Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three support race. His two seasons in International Formula 3000 were not successful however, and though he won the French Formula Three Championship. 2005 was his final competitive season...
at the wheel.
The engine was also used in the Crawford Racing Nissans in the Swedish Touring Car Championship
Swedish Touring Car Championship
Swedish Touring Car Championship was a touring car racing series based in Sweden, but also with rounds in Norway. They began operating in 1996, heavily influenced by the British Touring Car Championship and the success of BTCC racing on Swedish television...
, taking the title in 2000 with Tommy Rustad
Tommy Rustad
Tommy Rustad is a Norwegian auto racing driver. He currently drives in the Swedish Touring Car Championship. Tommy is the son of former wellknown Norwegian racer Ola Rustad.-Early Years:...
. With the demise of Supertouring, the AER-tuned SR20 was used in the short-lived World Series Light, a junior division to the Nissan World Series. This engine is no longer in use.
P14
The AER P14 is a V6 engineV6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
developed from a production Nissan VQ engine
Nissan VQ engine
The VQ is a V6 piston engine produced by Nissan with displacements varying from 2.0 L to 4.0 L. It is an aluminum block DOHC 4-valve design with aluminum heads. It is fitted with Nissan's EGI/ECCS sequential multi-point fuel injection system...
. Initially built to 3.0 L, the P14 was homologated
Homologation
Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
for use in sportscars fitting in the SR2 category of the FIA Sportscar Championship
FIA Sportscar Championship
The FIA Sportscar Championship was a sports car racing series created by John Mangoletsi and was eventually taken control of by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It was a series similar to the FIA GT Championship, concentrating on two classes of open-cockpit sports prototypes in...
. Engines in this series were required to be at a maximum of 3000 cc and based on production units.
In 2002, the P14 was offered for use by the World Series by Nissan World Series
World Series by Renault
The World Series by Renault, formerly the World Series by Nissan from 1998 to 2004, is a motor racing series. The series consists of the flagship Formula Renault 3.5 Series , the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Eurocup Mégane Trophy...
, but was dropped in favour of a 3.5 L version developed by Solution F when it became the World Series by Renault
World Series by Renault
The World Series by Renault, formerly the World Series by Nissan from 1998 to 2004, is a motor racing series. The series consists of the flagship Formula Renault 3.5 Series , the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Eurocup Mégane Trophy...
. The P14 has fallen out of use in international competition, but can still be seen in the Italian Prototype Championship in the CN4 class.
P07
Created in 2000, the P07 was a new engine created in association with MGMG (car)
The MG Car Company is a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber. Best known for its two-seat open sports cars, MG also produced saloons and coupés....
, based on their K-Series production unit for their entrance into sports car racing. However, unlike the P14, the P07 was a smaller 2.0 L inline-4, powered by a Garrett
Garrett AiResearch
Garrett AiResearch was a manufacturer of turboprop engines and turbochargers, and a pioneer in numerous aerospace technologies. It was previously known as Aircraft Tool and Supply Company, Garrett Supply Company, AiResearch Manufacturing Company, or simply AiResearch...
turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
, that could drive the engine to 500 hp (over 370 kW). Under the MG badge, the P07 was actually known as the MG XP20, yet MG's later exit from sports car racing led to the name being dropped.
The P07 is still in use in sports car series such as the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
and Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series
The Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest . The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season...
, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, in the LMP2 class. In 2003, an evolution kit raised the P07's power to 550 hp (410 kW).
P32T
Launched in 2006, the new P32T was an attempt by AER to move to the top Le Mans PrototypeLe Mans Prototype
A Le Mans Prototype is a type of sports prototype race car most notably used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, American Le Mans Series and Le Mans Series...
classes as well as offer itself a wide variety of options. The P32T V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
is actually able to be built from a range of 3.2 to 4.0 L (the maximum size allowed by 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
rules), although it is currently used in a 3.6 L form configuration. Two Garrett turbochargers are used to bring the engine to its maximum allowable power output. In 2007, the P32T was upgraded with a direct injection system. A naturally aspirated variant, known as P32N, was also considered but never developed.
Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team is one of the longest-running and most successful privateer racing organizations. Over the years, it has competed in IMSA GTO and GTP, SCCA Trans-Am,...
and Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsport initially used the P32T in 2006, while in 2007 Courage Compétition
Courage Compétition
Courage Compétition was a racing team and chassis constructor company now owned by Oreca, based in Le Mans, France near the Circuit de la Sarthe. It was founded by Yves Courage, a French race driver who ran hillclimbs before founding the company...
has become a customer while Team Cytosport have taken over Dyson's former AER-powered prototype.
MZR-R
Designed as a replacement for the aged P07, the all-new MZR-R is an engine developed in conjunction with the motorsports arm of MazdaMazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
, Mazdaspeed
Mazdaspeed
Mazdaspeed is Mazda's in-house race and street car tuning arm. It began in 1968 as "Mazda Sports Corner", a tuning and racing operation run by Takayoshi Ohashi, who also ran Mazda's Tokyo distributor...
. Although limited to 2.0 L displacement and using a single turbocharger, just like the P07, the MZR-R shares nothing from its predecessor, instead including some elements of the production Mazda MZR engine
Mazda MZR engine
MZR is the brand name of a generation of Straight-4 engines engineered and built by the Mazda Motor Corporation between 2001 and 2011. The MZR generation includes gasoline and diesel powered engines ranging in displacements from 1.3L to 2.5L. All gasoline-powered MZRs feature an all-aluminum block...
, including the DISI electronic fuel injection
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
system.
B-K Motorsports of the United States debuted the MZR-R at the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring
2007 12 Hours of Sebring
The 2007 Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring was the 55th running of this event and the opening round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series season. It took place on March 17, 2007.-Official results:Class winners are in bold...
, with AER planning to offer the MZR-R customers in 2008.
Racing success
AER engines have won the following championships or major races in its history:- 1999 British Touring Car Championship1999 British Touring Car Championship seasonThe 1999 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship season was won by Laurent Aïello in his debut season driving for the Nissan works team, with team mate David Leslie in second place....
drivers, manufacturers and teams championship with VodafoneVodafoneVodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
Nissan Racing (Nissan SR20Nissan SR engineThe Nissan SR engine is a 1.6 L, 1.8 L, or 2.0 L straight-4 4-stroke internal combustion gasoline engine manufactured by Nissan Motors. It features an aluminum head and aluminum block with steel sleeves in selected models and features a DOHC 4-valve design, with variable valve timing...
engine tuning). - 2000 Swedish Touring Championship drivers championship (Nissan SR20 engine tuning).
- 2000 Sports Racing World Cup SRL teams champion with Redman Bright (P14 engine).
- 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans2000 24 Hours of Le MansThe 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 68th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 17 and 18 2000.-Pre-race:After the 1999 race, most of the manufacturers in the top classes went in different directions. BMW and Toyota went into Formula One, while Mercedes-Benz left sportscars after the CLR...
LMP675 class winner with Multimatic Motorsports (P14 engine). - 2000 Grand American Road Racing Championship2000 Rolex Sports Car Series seasonThe 2000 Grand American Road Racing Championship season was the inaugural season of the Rolex Sports Car Series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The season involved five classes: Sports Racing Prototypes I and II and three Grand Touring classes referred to at GTO, GTU, and AGT...
SRII teams champion with Archangel Motorsports (P14 engine). - 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship2001 FIA Sportscar Championship seasonThe 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship season was the first season of FIA Sportscar Championship motor racing , a continuation of the previously named Sports Racing World Cup. It was open to prototype Sportscars competing in two classes based on power and weight, called SR1 and SR2. It began on April...
SR2 teams champion with SportsRacing Team Sweden (P14 engine). - 2001 Grand American Road Racing Championship2001 Rolex Sports Car Series seasonThe 2001 Grand American Road Racing Championship season was the second season of the Rolex Sports Car Series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The season involved five classes: Sports Racing Prototype I and II , Grand Touring Sport , Grand Touring , and American GT...
SRII teams champion with Archangel Motorsports (P14 engine). - 2001 24 Hours of Daytona24 Hours of DaytonaThe 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
SRII class winner with Archangel Motorsports (P14 engine). - 2002 American Le Mans Series2002 American Le Mans Series seasonThe 2002 American Le Mans Series season was the 4th season for the IMSA American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Touring race cars divided into 4 classes: LMP900, LMP675, GTS, and GT...
LMP675 teams champion with KnightHawk Racing (P07 engine). - 2003 FIA Sportscar Championship2003 FIA Sportscar Championship seasonThe 2003 FIA Sportscar Championship season was the seventh season of FIA Sportscar Championship motor racing. It featured the third and final series to carry the FIA Sportscar Championship name. The series was open to prototype style sportscars competing in two classes, SR1 and SR2, based on power...
SR2 teams champion with Lucchini Engineering (P14 engine). - 2003 American Le Mans Series2003 American Le Mans Series seasonThe 2003 American Le Mans Series season was the 5th season for the IMSA American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Touring race cars divided into 4 classes: LMP900, LMP675, GTS, and GT...
LMP675 teams champion with Dyson RacingDyson RacingDyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team is one of the longest-running and most successful privateer racing organizations. Over the years, it has competed in IMSA GTO and GTP, SCCA Trans-Am,...
(P07 engine). - 2003 24 Hours of Daytona24 Hours of DaytonaThe 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
SRII class winner with Team Seattle/Essex Racing (P14 engine). - 2004 American Le Mans Series2004 American Le Mans Series seasonThe 2004 American Le Mans Series season was the 6th season for the IMSA American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Touring race cars divided into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GTS, and GT...
LMP675 teams champion with Miracle Motorsports (P14 and P07 engines). - 2004 Le Mans Endurance Series2004 Le Mans Series seasonThe 2004 Le Mans Series season was the first season of ACO Le Mans Endurance Series. It is a series for Le Mans prototype and Grand Touring style cars broken into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GTS, and GT...
LMP675 teams champion with Courage CompétitionCourage CompétitionCourage Compétition was a racing team and chassis constructor company now owned by Oreca, based in Le Mans, France near the Circuit de la Sarthe. It was founded by Yves Courage, a French race driver who ran hillclimbs before founding the company...
(P07 engine). - 2005 American Le Mans Series2005 American Le Mans Series seasonThe 2005 American Le Mans Series season was the 7th season for the IMSA American Le Mans Series. It was a series for Le Mans Prototypes and Grand Touring race cars divided into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2...
LMP2 teams champion with Intersport Racing (P07 engine). - 2005 Le Mans Endurance Series2005 Le Mans Series seasonThe 2005 Le Mans Series season was the 2nd season of ACO Le Mans Endurance Series. It is a series for Le Mans prototype and Grand Touring style cars broken into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2...
LMP2 teams champion with Chamberlain-Synergy Motorsports (P07 engine). - 2006 Le Mans Series2006 Le Mans Series seasonThe 2006 Le Mans Series season is the 3rd season of ACO Le Mans Series. It is a series for Le Mans prototype and Grand Touring style cars broken into 4 classes: LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2...
LMP2 teams champion with Barazi-Epsilon (P07 engine). - 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans2006 24 Hours of Le MansThe 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 74th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place over June 17–18, 2006.-Pre-race:Prior to this race the ACO redeveloped the area around the Dunlop Curve and Dunlop Chicane, moving the Dunlop Curve in tighter to create more run-off area, while also turning the Dunlop...
LMP2 class winner with Ray Mallock, Ltd. (P07 engine).