Motorsport wiring: between OEM and aerospace

Motorsport sits between those two extremes. The vocabulary has evolved from aircraft and military specifications, where weight and reliability are paramount. As motorsport became a more sophisticated and expensive professional endeavour, dedicated motorsport connectors appeared — products that are even lighter and smaller than their aerospace counterparts, because they do not have to meet OEM production testing requirements. They only have to be reliable in a racing environment, which is “not the same as freezing in Siberia or bouncing down rural roads in your F150 pickup for decades.”

What motorsport wiring adds over aerospace is a much harsher local environment: heat from the engine bay, splash from rain and fuel, and constant vibration. Professional motorsport harnesses have to be completely sealed and essentially watertight, using harness epoxy and Raychem boots. This adds a high level of planning and documentation, and is far more labour-intensive than OEM. As the original article puts it: “Sexy never is easy. Buckle up.”