Penske Racing Shocks licenses Cambridge technology

Licensing agreement

Penske Racing Shocks, a world leader in racing damper technology, have announced a multi-year licence agreement with Cambridge Enterprise, the commercialisation office of the University of Cambridge, England, to incorporate its patented inerter technology in suspension components for primary use in Formula One racing. 

The terms of the agreement allow Penske Racing Shocks to design, develop, and produce generic and team specific inerter designs as well as future embodiments and enhancements. Penske Racing Shocks has been successfully developing inerter technology with Cambridge since 2003.

The inerter technology was invented and developed by Professor Malcolm Smith at the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge. A patent was filed by Cambridge Enterprise in 2001, with the first publication on the subject by Professor Smith in October 2002.

Commenting on the Penske licence agreement Professor Smith said, “Cambridge University Engineering Department has cooperated with Penske Racing Shocks for several years on the development of the inerter for use in motorsport. As a leading damper manufacturer and supplier of advanced technology in motorsport Penske Racing Shocks is an ideal partner to develop and supply the inerter to a wider customer base. It is extremely pleasing that we are now able to announce this agreement enabling our inerter technology to be offered to all teams in Formula One. It will be very exciting to see the further practical use and exploration of ideas which began with theoretical work in the Control Group at Cambridge University Engineering Department.”

Jim Arentz, Technical Director of Penske Racing Shocks, said, “We are extremely pleased to collaborate with Cambridge University in this capacity to further serve the needs of our valued customers in the F1 community. Inerter technology, although not a new area of development in F1, is something we feel as a leading damper manufacturer adds to our portfolio of pioneered applied technologies in professional racing. The benefit of the inerter to the handling characteristics of all racing vehicles is undeniable in both theory and practice. We are confident that the ingenuity of Cambridge now combined with Penske product quality, performance, and customer service, will promote greater exposure of the inerter in Motorsport.”

Penske Racing Shocks has been providing custom-built, high-performance shock absorbers to all forms of racing for over 20 years. Terms of the licence agreement were not disclosed.