Interviews

Inside Embassy – Zytek’s John Manchester

© Planetlemans – Marcel ten Caat

A critical component of a racing car, the engine is a fundamental election if you are a constructor starting in the business. When Embassy announced their engine partnership back in September last year we had a very enlightening conversation with Zytek’s Engineering Operations Director John Manchester. A veteran of 20 years in the business Manchester was satisfied with how things had started but how was he feeling after several months and 3 races had passed? On our next step Inside Embassy it was time for an engine check and, as usual, John Manchester was available to answer all of our questions.

PLM- John, how do you evaluate the relationship with Embassy up to now? Half a season has passed, are you still feeling so positive as when you started?

JM- Let me start by saying that our relationship is going very well. It is not only very strong but also very professional. It is clear that the people at Embassy want to do things right.

PLM- What’s the most important aspect from your side?

JM- Well, the partnership. Up to now Embassy Racing has shown they know how to do that, a clear example is the way they are interacting with Zytek, following all our instructions on the engine side for example, making it easy to work together.

PLM- Is it special to work with a new constructor? Is it any different than, say, an experienced chassis manufacturer?

JM- Well, building a race car is already quite a challenge but getting a new car on the track from scratch like Embassy has done is remarkable, even if probably it has been a bigger challenge than they had anticipated. However you have seen the improvement they have had in the three races they have participated. Monza was better than Barcelona and Spa better than Monza. They are making the right steps even when it is not an easy task.

PLM- And what factors you perceive at Embassy that enable that progress?

JM- I think they have the right infrastructure and the right people for the task. When you combine these two it is clear they will become more and more competitive as time passes.

PLM- So a good fit for an experienced company like Zytek…

JM- For us the relationship development is key. We see our customers as long term partners and in this case with such a good working relationship we are looking at a horizon of 5/6 years ahead in terms of relationship. In the end you want to be embedded in their operation, become an integral part of the team development on the engine side.

PLM- And let’s not forget that, as you mentioned in our previous chat, Zytek also provides all electronics.

JM- Very true, Zytek is providing a whole array of equipment to Embassy racing, not just the engine. Electronics, gearshift…

PLM- John, are you having a special treatment for Embassy? Last time you mentioned how every customer was treated equal by Zytek.

JM- And I still emphasize that. We advise all our teams similarly and we do not make any difference with Embassy. In all fairness however, Embassy soon found out we’re a very important component of their project so we get very involved in a number of aspects and this is very important at this level. From a manpower point of view we assign one engineer per car and we have always the same person during the whole season. This makes a fundamental difference because it ensures that both cars, 45 and 46, receive a personal touch and clear stability from our side for a substantial period. We do have a number of additional engineers at the circuits for all of our customers but the long term assignments like I described are a fundamental component of our partnership.

© Planetlemans -Gabriel Portos //Zytek engineers at work at the Embassy pit

PLM- You mentioned at the start of our conversation that Embassy has been very sharp in following Zytek’s instructions

JM- I would call them suggestions rather than instructions. In fact, this is very much depending on funding. Teams better funded have the capacity of deploying all suggestions you give them in your role as engine provided. In the case of Embassy, where the funding is very solid, it is good to see that they are not only able but also willing to implement our suggestions.

PLM- Do you feel Embassy are more or less demanding than other customers?

JM- It is a bit different, I think. More than Embassy being demanding I think Zytek is today more an advisor to Embassy Racing. They follow our advice to the letter and particularly during the initial stages of car development that was a fundamental component of getting things right, I was very impressed with their flexibility in that sense.

PLM- Embassy has very experienced drivers, is their feedback helping Zytek as much as one can imagine?

JM- We have had very good feedback from the drivers, mainly because it has been positive (laughs) In fact, Embassy’s drivers have been positive not only about the engine but also on other components like gear shift, traction control and our electronics, which is very pleasing for us.

Fitting like 2 pieces of a puzzle, Embassy and Zytek look to a long lasting partnership with intense cooperation and a very high degree of professionalism. As the cars keep evolving, Zytek has also ensured Jonathan France’s team both stability and quality on the engine department, one less thing to worry about.