BWR Motorsports provides on-track DMA tyre testing via Motite mobile unit

BWR Motorsports GmbH has developed technology which enables Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA tyre) testing to take place at the racetrack. Centred on a portable tyre testing unit called Motite, the system helps race teams across series such as Formula One and WEC to measure tyre grip levels and rank tyres on-track. The software allows an immediate grip level output and enables measurement and analysis to be carried out directly on the tyre.

Erich Baumgärtner, BWR Motorsports GmbH, said: “With tyres playing such an essential role in motorsport, efficient and quick analysis is very important as production and storage cause substantial tolerances within a batch of tyres. However, previous technology available was difficult to use on the racetrack as it requires stationary conditions and a material sample, which needs to be cut out of the tyre. The portability and ease of use of the Motite technology enables racing teams to measure all sets of tyres after allocation in under an hour, allowing them to easily rank the tyres available.”

Motite covers sinusoidal strain applied on the tread and computation of shear modulus and loss coefficient. It also measures tread temperature, wheel weight and tyre diameter to give teams a full analysis of the tyre.

The unit features a rotary motor measure head torque sensor, linear drive to apply preload and load cells to measure wheel weight. It also has a touch screen display to increase ease of use.

BWR Motorsports, based in Neustadt, Germany, was founded by Erich Baumgärtner, previously of DTM Audi Sport Team Rosberg. The team, which debuted in the 2021 ADAC Formula 4 Championship, also specializes in technology development within motorsport. The first Motite delivery to a Formula One team took place in 2021.