When Joel Vermiglio isn’t working his day job at McLaren Formula 1, he’s in his Garage 68 Motorsport workshop building an old VW Caddy… with a McLaren twin-turbo V8 in the rear tray, a Lamborghini gearbox, and Porsche 911 suspension.👉 Use 'JOEL100’ to get $100 off HPA’s Tuning Starter Package: https://hpcdmy.co/starterbJoel never set out to work in Formula 1 — in fact, he didn’t have any plans to get into motorsport at all. That changed in his late teens when he got into cars, went on to study, and eventually found his way into the industry.In this conversation, Joel shares his unexpected journey to joining one of the world’s top F1 teams — proving that you don’t need a PhD in mechanical engineering to claw your way to the pinnacle of motorsport.We also dig into the inner workings of a Formula 1 team, getting as much behind-the-scenes insight out of Joel as we can. From design and build to the day-to-day operations and the brutal pace of life in F1, it’s a fascinating look into what really goes on.Finally, Joel walks us through his VW Caddy project — a Frankenstein build sparked by spotting a perfectly good(ish) McLaren race motor in the scrap bin at work. Now it’s a running, driving weapon with supercar DNA and a whole lot of DIY ingenuity.Joel’s been using our courses to learn parts of the build process that he had little experience in, so this chat also offers an interesting look at how what HPA teaches gets applied in the real world.Follow Joel here :IG: @garage68motorsportYT: Garage 68 MotorsportWWW: mclaren.com/racing/👉 Don’t forget, you can use ‘JOEL100’ to get $100 off HPA’s Tuning Starter Package: https://hpcdmy.co/starterbTimestamps:0:00 The TRUTH About Life in Formula 1.3:42 What was your passion growing up?5:34 How and when did cars come on the scene?9:23 How did a passion for electronics and cars lead to a career in motorsport14:49 A career in motorsport can be a hard nut to crack. Just how challenging is it23:36 Landing a job with McLaren GT28:34 What’s involved in turning a supercar into a competitive GT race car?33:29 What’s involved in being a systems engineer for McLaren F1?43:30 What is a Cirrus tester and why do you use it?44:59 Component reliability and lifespan in F1.52:20 Crimping vs Soldering?56:40 How has your role at McLaren F1 changed over the 9 years you’ve been with them?1:01:25 Balancing F1 and family life. 1:10:54 What are your thoughts on where F1 is going?1:16:34 McLaren’s development path in 2024.1:19:57 Is Red Bull going to be lost without Adrian Newey?1:22:54 Can you tell us why you’re an HPA member?1:26:05 What is this project car you’re building?1:34:52 Final three questions.
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1:44:24
Field Report: Time For a Change?
Is it time to ditch your factory ECU?HP Tuners is known for reflashing factory ECUs, but now they’re flipping the script with their Core Standalone ECU, a complete engine management system that offers boost control, traction control, nitrous control and more right out of the box.Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-inWe stand up (not much seating at SEMA!) with Justin Burt from HP Tuners to break down who this ECU is for, when you should ditch a stock ECU, and what makes CORE different from the competition. Whether you’re pushing 1500hp on a factory ECU or building a dedicated motorsport machine, this discussion covers CAN bus customization, pricing, and potential future support for DI engines.Building on from the VCM Suite reflash tuning interface, VCM LIVE software ensures a familiar interface for HP Tuners users tuned to the needs of a standalone ECU tuner, while 12 base maps, sample data logs, and beginner-to-advanced tuning modes make it accessible for both new and experienced tuners to learn and grow with.With Gen 3/4 LS support out of the gate and Gen 3 Hemi & Coyote in development, this is more than just an LS swap ECU. In time and with the backing of a large company like HPT, is the CORE ECU potentially going to become the most versatile standalone ECU yet?
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14:48
Field Report: GT-Z: The RZ34 Nissan SHOULD have built?
S15 suspension in a 240Z—good idea or nightmare?Joel Dimmack’s 1971 Datsun 240Z is no ordinary drift car. Running a VR38DETT swap with Garrett GTX3071R mirrored turbos and making 600-700hp, this 1100kg wet monster blends old-school styling with modern competition-ready tech. But is an S15 suspension transplant really the best setup for drifting?Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-inWe dive deep into the Parts Shop MAX kit, chassis stiffening by Pace Innovations, and the MoTeC M150 ECU tuned by Nick Ashvin at NA Motorsport to see what it takes to make this build work. Plus, we break down the Albins 6-speed sequential gearbox, R32 GTR diff & axles, and the challenges of running an S-chassis suspension on a shorter wheelbase.Braking is handled by R33 GTST calipers with Project Mu pads and rotors, along with a twin-caliper rear handbrake setup—a must for a competition drift car.This is one of the wildest Z builds around, and it has presented Joel with some lessons and aspects he would do differently the second time around, but that is precisely what a build like this is all about and how ideas are built into skills.
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13:05
134: Performance EVs — Do They Have a Future?
The performance EV landscape is changing rapidly, and public opinion on electric vehicles also seems to be on the move. How much faster can they go? What are their limitations? Are they even still relevant? A lot has changed since we first had this week’s guest, Sasha Anis of Mountain Pass Performance, on the podcast back in 2022. This conversation gets us right up to date on where the industry sits now and what it’s going to look like in the very near future.Use ‘ONPOINT50’ to get $50 off HPA’s EV Fundamentals Course: https://hpcdmy.co/evbSasha has a foot in both the EV and ICE worlds, driving an extremely quick hybrid 350Z race car as well as owning and operating both Mountain Pass Performance and On Point Dyno, so he’s the perfect person to get down into the weeds on the latest automotive tech without much of a bias one way or the other.In this conversation, we jump straight into just how much things have changed since Sasha was on the podcast only a couple of years ago, discussing the good and the bad consequences of this rapid evolution. We also talk about where it’s all heading next. Is hybrid the way forward? And what about hydrogen? And how much better can EVs actually get?The chat then turns towards the technical side as Sasha talks us through the basics of an EV system, covering all the major components and their purposes. We also discuss why it’s so hard to extract extra power out of an EV system and how an amateur enthusiast should go about carrying out an EV swap if they want to actually get a good result. Follow Sasha here:IG: @mountainpassperformanceFB: Mountain Pass PerformanceYT: Mountain Pass PerformanceWWW: https://www.mountainpassperformance.com, https://www.onpointdyno.comDon’t forget, you can use ‘ONPOINT50’ to get $50 off HPA’s EV Fundamentals Course: https://hpcdmy.co/evbTimestamps:0:00 Performance EVs — Do They Have a Future?4:06 Who are you and where are you from?5:26 Hybrid 350z8:15 What has been the advances in electric vehicles in the last 2 years?16:04 How do you see the resale value of older EV models being affected as tech improves rapidly?22:24 Pros and cons Hybrid vs Full EV?26:44 What are your thoughts on alternative fuels for internal combustion engines?31:40 Where are the limitations of EV performance?36:46 HPA EV course overview41:47 Why can’t I make more power? And why does it overheat?53:59 How to maintain battery life?56:05 Motors and inverters: how do they work?1:00:20 What does the BMS do?1:02:52 How concerned should we be about EVs catching on fire?1:08:13 Final elements that the HPA EV course covers1:08:56 What’s involved in an EV swap?1:22:44 Traction control in an EV vehicle?1:26:42 Can the average home enthusiast perform an EV conversion?1:31:00 Final 3 questions
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1:40:12
Field Report: Why all the fuss? | Executive Order Approval.
Why don't OEMs tune for the maximum reliable performance and what's all the fuss about over emissions compliance in the United States 'street legal' modified car scene?Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-inEmissions compliance might not be the most exciting topic, but if you're tuning a street car, ignoring it could land you in serious trouble. We're joined by Chris Mountain from @cobbtuning to break down how emissions regulations have changed, what CARB (The California Air Resources Board) EO (Executive Order) certification really means, and how you can still make large power gains while staying '50-state' legal within the regulations the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has developed and enforces (like it or not).Covered during this SEMA show interview is why OEMs tune for lambda instead of maximum performance, how hardware mods like intercoolers and turbo upgrades affect emissions, and the rigorous (and expensive) testing companies like COBB are now going through to ensure compliance. Plus, find out how you can achieve 20-30% power gains without risking fines or legal headaches.If you're modifying a street car in the USA and need to keep it legal, this is a must-watch.
High Performance Academy Presents: Tuned In. A podcast interviewing influential people from around the world at the top of their respected fields. Covering topics such as Tuning, CAD, Performance Engine Building, Automotive/Motorsport Wiring, Data Analysis, Driver Coaching/Training, Motorsport Fabrication and Car Setup.
UK