Andrew McDougall, Xtrac’s esteemed principal design engineer, has been honored with the 2024 Louis Schwitzer Award for his groundbreaking gearbox electric servo actuator. This innovation is a key component of Xtrac’s single-source transmission supply for the NTT IndyCar Series, which includes the iconic Indianapolis 500, held annually on the Sunday before Memorial Day.
McDougall was awarded a $10,000 prize by the Indiana Section of SAE International and award sponsors Cummins and Valvoline Global at a ceremony held at the Dallara Factory in Speedway, Indiana, on May 18, 2024.
“This award reflects the outstanding efforts of our engineering team, a group of dedicated professionals who have supported me throughout this journey,” McDougall expressed. He received a commemorative plaque, which will be added to a trophy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. “I am especially proud to accept this on behalf of our senior R&D systems engineer Geoff Cholmeley, design engineer Geri Nicosia, and senior software engineer Rose Panikulam. Their collaborative contributions were crucial in developing the electric servo actuator and bringing the concept to fruition.”
McDougall, who has been with Xtrac’s Indianapolis facility for over 20 years, is a seasoned professional in the motorsport industry, holding a first-class mechanical engineering degree from Warwick University. His expertise has been pivotal in designing and managing complete transmission systems and sub-assemblies. Alongside the electric servo actuator (ESA), another of his notable innovations is Xtrac’s patented Instantaneous Gearchange System (IGS), a purely mechanical design that allows seamless gear shifts in zero time by momentarily holding two gears simultaneously without causing damage to the gearbox.
Adrian Moore, Xtrac’s chief executive, expressed his delight, stating, “This award is a testament to the expertise within our team, each member bringing their unique skills to the project. Their ingenuity deserves this recognition. I also want to acknowledge our production team in the UK, whose quality work on the ESA made it possible to supply the entire IndyCar grid with this technology.”
Geoff Cholmeley, with Xtrac since 2012, is an experienced engineer specializing in electromechanical systems. Geri Nicosia joined in 2022 after his industrial placement as an undergraduate engineer, and Rose Panikulam, who joined in December 2023, brought significant software expertise, playing a crucial role in developing the P1399 ESA to meet industry standards.
Xtrac’s P1399 Electric Servo Actuator represents a revolutionary advancement in gearchange systems for sequential shift transmissions. The ESA offers numerous benefits, including ultra-fast shifts, reduced weight, streamlined components, and enhanced efficiency. Its direct actuation technology improves accuracy and repeatability while significantly reducing the electrical demand on race cars, making it a transformative innovation in the motorsport industry.
Steve Holman, chair of the Louis Schwitzer Award Committee, commented, “This prestigious accolade celebrates groundbreaking innovations that push the boundaries of advanced automotive technology. Named after Louis Schwitzer, an accomplished engineer and race car driver, this award has a rich history of honoring those behind innovative concepts in motorsport. This year’s award highlights McDougall’s exceptional work and team leadership, underscoring Xtrac’s significant role in advancing the motorsport industry.”
Over its 40 years of continuous growth, Xtrac has garnered numerous accolades, including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2020 and the Princess Royal Training Award for its exemplary apprenticeship program in 2018 and 2021. This recognition reaffirms Xtrac’s position as a leader in automotive and motorsport transmission innovation.
