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"In addition, the valve train is virtually a stock piece. All
the timing gears, lifters, etc. are virtually stock in the ECOTEC as
well. We keep as many stock components in these engines as we possibly
can to truly validate the durability of these motors. We have a great
racing engine because we had a great production piece to start with."
With the abundance of power from their engines, GM Racing engineers
now are focussing on traction and chassis development in order to see
the full, on-track potential of their ECOTEC power plants.
"When we leave the starting line we're using about 300 horsepower,"
said
Bothwell. "We need to leave the starting line with more power and
get that engine screaming as high as it can as quickly as possible."
Whether it's educating quarter-mile enthusiasts on the importance of
safety or high performance, the ultimate motivation behind GM Racing's
Sport-Compact program is to create an open-door policy where competitors
can enter freely and ask questions of the team's staff of on-site engineers.
It's a unique opportunity rare in motorsports where Sport-Compact enthusiasts
can learn from the techniques GM Racing engineers are using to help
enhance the sport.
"Our door is always open at the track," said Josh Peterson,
GM Racing program manager. "We're always talking openly about what
we've done to improve the motor. When you look at how the ECOTEC sits
in the production car, it's a fairly nice, clean layout for the everyday
guy that wants to boost horsepower without tearing the whole engine
apart. The basics of the ECOTEC are so fundamentally sound and we want
everyone to see that. That's why we're striving to make it as easy as
possible for competitors to learn on their own. We currently have 24
pieces we use on ECOTEC available in the GM Performance Parts catalogue,
and we're looking to add to that.
"When we go to the starting line we go out there to win, but when
we're in the pits, we're there to educate racers as much as we can about
ECOTEC, about safety and about the entire GM Racing program in general."
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