What Do YOU Know About Turbo Speed And Pressures? [TECH NUGGET]

With the start line at 9,000ft and finish at over 14,000ft the competition hill climb cars of Pikes Peak face a few struggles that many others do not.

Due to this high altitude and as such, lower air density, the output of the engine can be drastically reduced. When the aim of the game is to go as fast as possible, this is hardly ideal but fortunately, there are a few ways to help combat this issue with the most common being the use of a turbocharger. A turbocharger will overcome the lack of air by physically forcing more into the cylinder, but as the car gets higher and higher the turbo must work harder and harder to maintain the same pressures.

Understanding the pressure ratios the car will face, sizing your turbo correctly and monitoring the turbos speed to ensure it's operating where it should be and clear of its critical speed to avoid critical failure.

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