DIGITAL ENGINE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
ELECTRONICS INNOVATION
FROM FORMULA 1 TO
BENTLEY / ROLLS ROYCE
UNRIVALED AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY
Zytek has an unrivaled history of digital engine management development and deployment in the highest tiers of motorsport.
When Zytek was formed in 1981, the business model adopted was electronics innovation in motorsport.
From the outset, Zytek looked for new opportunities to enhance the control of complex mechanical assemblies via the use of 12V electronics in the modern engine.
Designing the First Microprocessor-Controlled Programmable Engine Management System for Formula 1
Initially, the focus was on the internal combustion engine, and Zytek were soon tasked with designing the first digital, microprocessor-controlled, programmable engine management system for Formula 1.
Designated as EMS-1 and working with Hart Racing Engines, Toleman Motorsport, and Ayrton Senna, the most notable result was a second place at 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, in the rain, the race famously being stopped early due to the weather with Senna catching Prost for the race lead. This system was also deployed with the first Tom Walkinshaw motorsport-developed Jaguar XJRs.
EMS-2 (Motorsport) – Le Mans, Formula 1, British Touring Cars and F3000
EMS-2 followed, leading to one of Zytek’s most famous race wins. In 1988, Jaguar entered the World Sports Prototype Championship, with the XJR-9 and managed to secure 6 victories including the 24 hours of Le Mans. This system was also used in other race series including Formula 1 (Williams Judd), British Touring Cars (Andy Rouse Sierra Cosworth) and the start of the F3000 activities.
The later EMS-2 platform was exclusively a motorsport system, being used again in Formula 1 in 1993-1994, with customers including Hart Racing Engines, Yamaha and Sauber/Ilmor. All engines in this era were V10, giving some of the most iconic sounds of grand prix racing.
EMS-2 (Road) – Jaguar Sport V12 XJRS
Significantly, the EMS-2 also marked the start of road car activities with the Jaguar Sport V12 XJRS.
EMS-3 (Road) – Jaguar XJ220 / V12 coupes, Aston Martin’s DB7, Bentley & Rolls Royce premium V8 turbo
The next platform was exclusively a road car system, EMS 3 being used for the Jaguar XJ220 and V12 coupes, plus for the first 18 months of Aston Martin’s DB7. This was also the first time the system was adopted for Bentley and Rolls Royce for their premium V8 turbo “6 ¾” cars from 1994 onwards.
EMS-4 – All F3000 projects
The next significant hardware update, EMS-4, was used in all the later F3000 projects (where for 9 years, Zytek also had the contract for exclusive engine supply amassing over 900 scheduled rebuilds across a fleet of 80 engines with a total fleet mileage of over 1.5 million miles). In addition, this system was used in all of Zytek’s Le Mans racing activities with its LMP2 chassis achieving victory in 2011 with Jota Sport. Finally, this system was used in all of the A1GP “World Cup of Motorsport” events for the first 4 years, powering the Zytek 3.4litre V8 engine and running alongside the Zytek electronic gearshift system.
EMS-5 – Bentley Road Car using the V8 turbo engine
The last system design, EMS5, was a 32-bit system and was utilised for the final run of Bentley road car projects using the V8 turbo engine.
This was the last time a Zytek engine management system update would be seen until the emergence of a brand new engine control platform which debuted in V10 sports car from America. But that is a new story…
- First digital EMS in Formula 1
- First Jaguar Le Mans victory since 1957
- First electronic EMS to pass 1 million miles in motorsport
RELATED INNOVATION
Electric
Vehicles
Hybrid Motorsport
Hybrid Road Vehicles
Vehicle Electrification
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1984, for the Toleman Hart F1 car.
No, though cars are still running using Zytek electronics
Yes, and there are many cars that have benefitted from the motorsport attitude of “constantly striving for performance advantage”. These include products from Jaguar, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Dodge who have benefited from our electronic control units.
Over the years, systems were used in both forms of motorsport, hence demonstrating ultimate performance and consistency
- An electronic control unit (ECU) that controls all aspects of the operation of the internal combustion engine in a vehicle.
- The EMS controls how much fuel goes into each cylinder in order to achieve optimal combustion.
- It also controls ignition timing, air/fuel ratio, and other factors that affect performance.
An engine management system is used for controlling the fuel injection, ignition timing, and other functions of the engine. The engine control unit communicates with sensors located around the vehicle to monitor various parameters such as engine speed, temperature, oil pressure, etc. This information is then sent to the ECU which controls all aspects of the engine operation.
Zytek EMS greatly improves both engine fuel efficiency as well as engine performance.
An engine control unit (ECU) is a computer chip that controls all aspects of how your car runs. The ECU monitors everything from fuel injection to spark timing taking in data from engine sensors such as throttle position sensors and oxygen sensors.
