Xtreme Outback Joins ECB SuperUte Series

Xtreme Outback has recently joined the upcoming ECB SuperUte series to supply heavy duty clutch kits for the teams throughout Australia.

The new ECB SuperUte series will place some of Australia’s most popular dual-cabs against each other on the racetrack. Each vehicle will be modified with a select package of components as decided by category management to ensure reliability and performance parity between makes. The package includes race specification brakes, wheels and suspension to help handle the punishment of motorsport, along with a variety of other upgrade components including a CAMS approved roll cage to make the vehicles faster and safer.

The series recently revealed two completed vehicles (a Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton) at the Townsville round of the Supercars Championship and has confirmed that the Mazda BT-50, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max and Holden Colorado have also been homologated for competition in the category.

One significant control component required for parity is the Tremec control transmission. This required a specially engineered solution for the clutch and flywheel. “The ECB SuperUte series utilise a 6 speed, Tremec control transmission which means that every model must have a specially designed clutch kit.” Explains Stewart Furze, Xtreme Outback Mechanical Engineer, “We have been working closely with teams and the category management to design a range of clutch kits from the ground up that are specifically developed for these conversions. With such a broad range of different clutch and flywheel setups in these vehicles from factory, it is not as simple as switching some components around to make it work. We have designed and engineered a set range of components tailored to each engine package that will again ensure parity between makes but also offer the durability and performance gains the category requires.”

Australian Clutch Services, the parent company of the Xtreme Outback brand, utilise an extensive in-house research and development facility that allows testing of not only replacement and performance clutch kits and components, but specialist clutch kits designed for engine or transmission conversions. “We develop clutch kits for transmission or engine conversions regularly and we have become specialists in developing unique solutions for highly modified vehicles.” Says Australian Clutch Services Managing Director, Brenton Jordan, “We have been able to engineer a solution for the SuperUte’s unique setup that will be ideal for these vehicles, despite them being driven at the limit.”

The clutch kits are all twin plate ceramic racing kits which offer a lightweight alloy cover and are designed to handle up to 1830 Nm of torque. “We have developed this kit around the twin plate ceramic because the material offers excellent heat capacity which will be a major factor with these vehicles when racing.” Mr Jordan said. Combined with custom, one-off flywheels and the appropriate hydraulic actuation components, these kits are a truly unique solution that has been developed with years of knowledge gained from producing heavy duty clutch kits for thousands of 4x4 vehicles. “We have taken all we have learnt over decades of producing heavy duty and performance clutches for vehicles around the world and have applied this to the new ECB SuperUte series. We thoroughly look forward to seeing the category take to the track at their first round next year.”

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