The Dash-CAE TR01 is relatively affordable compared to building a carbon fiber tub from the ground up.
Formula 1 cars are expensive, primarily because they are bespoke to specifications, including their carbon fiber monocoque chassis. However, if you want to build your race car with F1 bones, you can now do so, thanks to F1 supplier Dash-CAE and its TR01 carbon fiber tub.
Introduced last month and making its public debut at this week's Goodwood Festival of Speed, the TR01 chassis is a versatile and accessible platform, offering a cost-effective solution for hypercar, supercar, and motorsport projects. Best of all, it's suitable for use with a traditional combustion engine but can also accommodate hybrid and battery-electric powertrains, and it can work with front-, mid- and rear-mounted powertrains. Basically, you can build a rival to anything from a Porsche Taycan to an Aston Martin Valkyrie with this platform, or even a Porsche 911 rival.
Automakers typically build their monocoque chassis from the ground up, like the Lamborghini Revuelto. With the TR01 as an off-the-shelf option, that's possible without millions or billions of dollars involved.
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Weighing a mere 110 lbs, the TR01 carbon monocoque offers an impressive 35,000 Nm per degree stiffness rating (A Bugatti Chiron has a 50,000 Nm per degree rating), making it an attractive option for enthusiasts and professionals. It has a starting price of approximately £30,000 or around $39,000.
At this price point, the TR01 might sound expensive, but compared to other options in the market, the TR01 is a bargain. Carbon fiber chassis of this caliber have previously only been available through high-end suppliers to Formula 1 teams or limited to used vehicles like the Alfa Romeo 4C, which lack the flexibility and modifiability of the TR01.
So how did Dash-CAE manage to bring down the price of the TR01? Using 3D printing technology, the British-based engineering firm has manufactured the TR01 accurately and cost-effectively.
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“The TR01 chassis opens new possibilities for niche automotive manufacturers and larger international OEMs by offering an affordable, versatile, lightweight, and high-stiffness carbon monocoque chassis,” said Tim Robathan, Dash-CAE's founder and CEO. “These programs are often incredibly expensive and the ability to use a production carbon monocoque is a huge time and cost saving, without compromising performance. Our commitment to innovation and engineering excellence makes the TR01 an industry-disrupting solution that challenges traditional carbon chassis production and makes high-performance monocoques far more accessible.”
Of note, Robathan has a background working with Lotus F1.
Dash-CAE will proudly display the TR01 chassis at Stand 66 at Goodwood throughout the duration of the event. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is celebrating its 75th year.
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Keyword: Off-The-Shelf Carbon Chassis Is Supercar Solution With F1 Tech