Nichols Racing rely on EBC Brakes Racing’s Big Brake Kit and pad range in their BMW race cars
The US-based Nichols Racing outfit currently runs a duo of BMW race cars across multiple endurance race series, using a range of EBC Brakes Racing components to instill confidence and reliability into their braking setups.
Below, you can read a summary of their 2024 season, where it’s apparent the strong and reliable braking systems helped to propel them to success…
“As Nichols Racing closes another racing season, we want to take a beat to reflect on one of the key components that the team contributes our success to. Spanning a couple differently classed vehicles including an LS-powered E46 BMW M3 and a former World Challenge E46 BMW 330i, the performance of the EBC Brakes Racing RP and SR brake pads, paired with the Apollo Big Brake Kits, has been outstanding.
“The LS3-powered E46 M3 is Nichols Racing’s flagship car, which puts out around 450hp and runs in a few different endurance series with various drivers. This car is equipped with SR-11 front pads, paired with an Apollo-4R kit, along with OE calipers and RP-1 pads in the rear which proved to not only handle the extreme temperatures generated by a relatively heavy and high horsepower car, but excelled.
“Braking consistency across multiple laps was phenomenal, with zero fade detected even as the car came in with the brakes smoking from extended stints. It was interesting to walk around the paddock and see teams doing full rotor and pad swaps in-between the 8-hour races at various tracks, while we simply did a brake bleed and kept all the same hardware in. We got around 20 hours in (a full endurance weekend of 4hr practice + 2 x 8hr races) before we even started considering swapping pads. We do in-between weekends just to start fresh, but the general consensus was 40 hours on the tracks we visited wouldn’t be a problem; we even did it once!”
“The E46 BMW 330i we run is a different animal than the M3: very agile, low powered, and a momentum-based car. Momentum cars require very well executed trail braking while still maintaining overall braking confidence through good bite, balanced with excellent modulation. Initially, we ran the OE setup with RP-X (front) and RP-1 (rear), which worked great and offered a good balance for the car; we found this setup to work really well at tracks where braking was done more delicately and could be considered snubs more than heavy deceleration.
“After installing an Apollo 6 setup on the front of the car, we migrated to the SR-11 front and RP-1 rear setup we liked so much on the M3, and the car really came into its element. Capturing some track records and plenty of trophies with a car that we later found out was down two cylinders was no easy feat, but we all contributed it mostly to the braking confidence and ability to just downright out-brake anyone if we needed to get by. After a whole weekend endurance racing (about 20 hours again) we measured about 2mm of pad loss for the front SR-11 pads, leaving about 12mm more so potential for over 100 hours of race time.”
“Overall, the team couldn’t be happier as every box was checked: consistent performance, zero fade, great modulation, low wear, and great bite/coefficient level. Nichols Racing looks forward to a continued partnership with EBC Brakes Racing as the components have been a game changer for the team. The consistent performance across all the vehicles we have tried these items on is a testament to the reliability and innovation these pads bring to the table.
“Here’s to even better results next season!”
SR-11™ Sintered Endurance Race Brake Pad
Medium-friction compound targeted for front of street-base endurance race cars where high ABS effect exists on the car, or for the front and rear of race cars with bias controls.
Apollo 4R Big Brake Kit
The full-race version of EBC Brakes Racing’s acclaimed 4-piston Apollo Big Brake Kit. Featuring castellated stainless steel pistons, no dust seals and a hard anodised finish.
RP-1™ Track/Race Motorsport Brake Pads
Pairing high performance with unprecedented modulation and control, resulting in a track pad that feels uniquely different to the competition and allows drivers to extract every last tenth from every braking zone.
