V8 Supercars gives Ryco extra drive in 4WD owners pursuit

afr.com:

Electric vehicles are slowly making headway in Australia, with about a sixth of all new vehicles sold in Australia being either full battery electric or a hybrid version.

But there are still more than 8 million SUVs, utes and four-wheel drives on Australia’s roads with petrol or diesel-powered engines. Automotive component makers are accelerating their push to develop parts that can make them as efficient as possible.

One of them, the historic Ryco brand, is a runner-up in the manufacturing and consumer goods category of the AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies awards.

Ryco, established in 1936, is a dominant player in oil filters and associated parts. It has found strong acceptance from customers for a new RCC360 product that traps contaminants such as fine oil droplets, enabling filtered gas to pass through to the engine intake without harming the engine.

It hit the market in April and targets the four-wheel drive vehicle segment. Alastair Hampton, the general manager of engineering and innovation, says the business takes a very practical approach.

Ryco is a sponsor of the V8 Supercars series where it tests products in races. 

“The automotive aftermarket parts sector can use its unique perspective of seeing how vehicles are performing in the real world, and provide supplemental upgrades to ensure longevity and long term efficient operation under harsh environments,” he says.

At a broader level, Ryco uses the V8 Supercars races to test out products under high-speed extreme conditions.

“V8 Supercars work has been an excellent test bed for our cutting-edge technology as well as a very public test of the benefits of our premium filtration products,” Hampton says.

He says it enables race engines to last longer, and maintain