Motorsports

Experts in motorsport transmission, design and manufacture

Ricardo partners with top-tier motorsport customers to deliver competition-ready, proven transmission systems. Operating in on-and-off circuit applications across Formula 1, GT and prototype, single seater, WRC, and electric race series including Formula E, Ricardo is trusted by the world’s leading OEMs.

Experts in transmission design and manufacture

Our process-driven design, manufacture, assembly and end-of-line testing ensures delivery of effective, low maintenance, winning solutions. First time, every time.

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Our process-driven design, manufacture, assembly and end-of-line testing ensures delivery of effective, low maintenance, winning transmissions. First time, every time.

Ricardo has been at the forefront of niche volume programs for over 40 years. Specialists in complex, precision, electromechanical products, we have delivered projects from individual components through to complete powertrain systems to the motorsport industry.

With a dedicated machining facility of over 4,500 square meters, capable of producing every element of high performance transmission, we maintain a capability not only assemble the words most advanced transmissions but to control every element of their manufacture.

Benefiting from constant investment in both capacity and capability means that the manufacturing centre in Leamington Spa, UK is ideally positioned to support competitors with world class production support and incredibly short lead-times to enable later and later design release each year. 

Ricardo niche manufacture and assembly services

  • Design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA) with components, assemblies and systems optimized to improve key client requirements without sacrificing functionality 
  • Reducing cost, complexity, assembly time and warranty risk, while improving utilisation of materials
  • Product purchasing specification, including technical requirements, measurement, inspection and testing procedures, and logistics
  • Process development, including value stream mapping and flow definition, process layouts utilising lean, six-sigma and 5S principles, and load-balancing
  • Work-station specification, including fixture design, tooling, measurement systems, ergonomics and quality techniques
  • Supplier qualification, selection and management, including auditing and technical and quality improvement initiatives
  • Warranty optimisation
  • Component- and system-level cost estimating and product benchmarking
  • Complete lifecycle support via a dedicated programme manager

Ricardo delivers high-quality prototype and low-volume manufacturing of complex products and assemblies, ranging from engines, transmissions, electric motors and generators, battery packs and fuel-cell systems to clean-sheet special vehicle programmes.

With extensive in-house machining, heat treatment, assembly and inspection facilities, we also manufacture a wide range of powertrain systems for motorsport and high-performance production vehicles. In addition to its role in the internal operations, Ricardo’s manufacturing engineering team also provides a comprehensive and high quality manufacturing consultancy service.

Capabilities spanning from concept development through to full-product and trackside support position Ricardo as a world-class partner and ensure seamless integration for its clients.

The transmission is a vital component of a race car's success. As part of major transmission programmes, Ricardo offers global trackside support to both test and race weekends and will work alongside the team’s engineers to share the knowledge and specifics of the transmission to create self sufficiency.

Formula E

Related capabilities

We support a range of platforms and formats with our winning technology.

Formula 1

Formula 1

Ricardo are trusted by the World's leading Formula 1 teams to deliver championship winning transmission services and components.

Porsche LM Prototype

LM prototypes

Build-to-print components and complete transmission solutions for LMP1 and LMP2 classes.

2019 WRC Italy Msport

Rally and off-road

Bespoke, cost effective, robust transmission for some of the harshest environments.

BMW M6 GT3

GT3 and GTE

Transmissions Solutions for Factory and Customer GT Racing

Single Seater On Track

Single seater

End-to-end podium placing solutions for the single seater market.

Peugeot 908 Herritage

Heritage motorsport

Recommissioning and 'reverse engineering’ services to support historic and heritage motorsport.

Formula E

Formula E

Electrification solutions for the next generation of motorsports.

Motorsports

Services

Our process-driven design, manufacture, assembly and end-of-line testing ensures delivery of effective, low maintenance, winning transmissions. First time, every time.

Ricardo delivers a range of assurance and testing services across a variety of industries.

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Find out more about our expert automotive testing solutions at our state-of-the-art facilities.

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Ricardo specialise in high-performance, niche volume manufacturing and assembly for complex, precision, electromechanical products and offer world-class industrialisation consultancy

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We are experts in the establishing flexible and stable product assembly operations which output complex products to help our clients achieve their premium product aspirations.

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Prototype builds and vehicle adaption services for special vehicle platforms.

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As a leading industrial and manufacturing expert, we provide a world-class industrialisation consultancy service to help our clients manufacture their complex and innovative products.

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Precision manufacture of complex mechanical components for engines and transmissions for high performance and specialised applications delivered in low volumes.

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Ricardo's strategic consultancy services enables our clients to navigate complexity in a disrupted world.

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Ricardo's strategic consultancy offering enables our clients to navigate complexity in a disrupted world.

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Ricardo offers world-class technical consulting services to enable our customers to get the most from their products and services in the energy, transportation and manufacturing sectors.

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Learn more about our leading engineering, design and design services.

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Experts in delivering innovative system engineering and integration solutions towards a safe and sustainable future.

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Technical insights and analysis from Ricardo experts.

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Case studies

BMW Group - Industry leading vehicle footprint disclosure project

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Developing a transmission for Formula E

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Developing cutting edge gearbox for one of the world's fastest single seater track car

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News

Spiral Bevel Gears

Ricardo’s in-house manufacturing capability explained

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Istock 1351973376 Retouched Desat

Fuel cell technology and its role in future decarbonisation

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PMW 2021

Ricardo at Professional MotorSport World Expo 2023

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Book a consultation with our motorsport experts