The NTT IndyCar Series has announced that it is pausing development on its new 2.4-liter engine, which was set to be introduced for the 2024 season.
Instead of working on the new engine, the series has decided to continue using the proven 2.2-liter engine specifications that have been in use since 2012.
Work had been ongoing throughout the past year by both Chevrolet and Honda in order to get the new engines ready for use, and reports indicated that the limited on-track testing had been completed with very few issues.
Ongoing supply chain issues, as well as the planned simultaneous implementation of a hybrid electronics system to the power supply, meant that the decision was made to at least temporarily abandon work on the new motor.
The hybrid components are still being actively developed, and the plan is now to affix the electric power components to the existing combustion motor.
“We are most proud of the many advancements that the NTT IndyCar Series has made in leading the motorsports world toward a more sustainable future”, IndyCar President Jay Frye said in a release.
“The 2.2-liter IndyCar engines supplied by Honda and Chevrolet have provided the most competitive racing in the world. The 2024 hybrid engine package will provide even more excitement with horsepower increases over the current engine.”
The new engine and the hybrid systems both have undergone significant delays since their announcement in part due to the pandemic and ongoing global supply chain issues.
It is unknown at this time how the developmental hybrid components will need to be modified to accommodate the existing engine, or if there will be changes made to the power output to better match the combustion engine.
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