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Another Day, Another Pair of Records for the Ecotec Engine at Bonneville
By Phil Colley
GM Performance Division Communications
Amazingly, the Ecotec engine set two more land speed records yesterday and qualified for yet another.
GM Performance Division engineer and driver Mark Dickens shattered the record he set on Sunday in the G/BFALT class (G Class/Blown Fuel Altered Coupe) with a speed of 246.849 mph, more than 28 mph better than his previous mark of 218.392 mph.
The Bonneville Student Project Cobalt SS again qualified to try and break its previous record in the G/FCC class (G Class/Unblown Fuel Competition Coupe) with a 171.074 mph run by using E85 ethanol with a nitrous oxide boost. This morning, Dickens will look to push the car to a 170+ mph record.
Both cars are powered by the Ecotec 2.0-liter LSJ engine, but the Student Cobalt is based off the naturally-aspirated version.
And further still the Haas Roadster, owned by Haas Racing and built in partnership with So-Cal Speed Shop, set a new record in the G/BFMR class (G Class/Blown Fuel Modified Roadster) with a speed of 196.106 mph. The Haas Roadster features a 2.0-liter Ecotec turbo.
The Ecotec engine is one of the most adaptable and durable engines around and suited to all levels of off-road racing competition, leading one credentialed media member to even call it “bulletproof” yesterday. That comment really got me thinking, and it’s hard to argue with an engine that just keeps setting records and winning races no matter the grassroots venue.
In the past four years, the Ecotec engine has now set records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in eight different classes. The Ecotec-powered Cobalt SS Supercharged is currently leading the points standings in the Grand-Am Cup Series, and the Club Sport Solstice with its 2.4-liter Ecotec VVT recently won a divisional championship in only its first year of Sports Car Club of America National Road Racing.
I would have to fill up this entire blog to elaborate on all the Ecotec engine’s accomplishments in the professional, drag and drift racing venues. But let’s just say that some Ecotec engines can get up to 1,450 horsepower, and that’s pretty impressive. I’m sure today the Ecotec will again prove its mettle for the Student Cobalt’s record return run.
Posted by Editor on August 16, 2006 9:14 AM
