Motorsport gives sensors
nowhere to hide
A competition car is an unforgiving environment for measurement hardware. Gill provides sensing technologies for Formula 1, rally, endurance racing, Le Mans and GT racing, supporting race teams, high-performance vehicle manufacturers and engineering partners.
From non-contact position and level sensing to oil debris monitoring and environmental measurement, Gill technologies are engineered for applications where the measurement has to perform as hard as the machine.
The sensor has to survive the job it is measuring
Motorsport engineering is built around finding performance. Change something. Run the car. Measure what happened. Change it again.
That only works when the measurement can be trusted.
A position sensor may cycle thousands of times through a session. A level sensor may be measuring fluid that is moving under sustained lateral load. An engine or gearbox can be generating wear debris long before a conventional parameter makes the problem obvious. Trackside conditions can change while the car is on circuit.
The measurement hardware has to cope with all of it.
No room for the sensor to become the limiting factor.
Gill’s sensing technologies are designed around these demands, using non-contact, solid-state and ultrasonic measurement where eliminating mechanical wear or reducing installation complexity matters.
Measurement proven at the sharp end of motorsport
Motorsport demands more than a sensor that works on the bench. Measurements are taken through vibration, heat, fluid exposure, acceleration and repeated movement, often within extremely tight packaging constraints.
Gill has more than 40 years of precision measurement experience, with technologies proven in demanding applications including Formula 1 and Le Mans. Gill’s capacitive sensing technology has been used for Formula One fuel level measurement.
That experience continues across today’s portfolio, from vehicle position and fluid level to oil condition and trackside environmental measurement.
When the measurement matters, the engineering behind it matters too.
Every lap time starts at a measurement point
Motorsport measures across the car and the circuit. Position on everything that moves. Level in every tank. Wear inside the engine and the gearbox. Conditions around the car when the run was set.
Suspension and ride height
Damper travel and ride height move continuously under load, in heat and in spray, which is the duty that ends a contacting sensor.
- Blade60 60 mm linear or 90 degree angular, configurable range
- Blade25 25 mm linear or 90 degree angular, PWM, RS232 and RS485
- Blade Dual Output single and dual channel analogue for a redundant second channel
Throttle, pedal and steering
Driver inputs feed the control strategy and the data review, so they need to repeat run to run and, where the system demands it, to be measured twice.
- Blade Dual Output single and dual channel output from one non-contact sensor
- Blade25 25 mm linear, 90 degree angular, fully configurable
- Blade360 full 360 degree rotary, IP67, RS485
Aerodynamic device position
Movable aerodynamic devices have to report where they actually are, not where they were commanded to be, and the sensor sits in airflow, heat and debris.
- Blade25 25 mm travel, non-contact, IP67
- Blade360 360 degree rotary for a hinged device
- BladeCom configuration travel, switch points and output limits set before installation
Catch tank and oil level
Endurance regulations set the catch tank requirement, and the sensor answering it has to be approved, sealed and readable without opening the bodywork.
- Gill catch tank level sensor ACO Le Mans approved, analogue voltage rising with oil level
- DD1615 level display local readout for the level sensors
- LevelLite lightweight aluminium, IP68, voltage or current output
Fuel and lubricant storage
Drums and bulk containers in the garage and the paddock need level measurement that survives the fluid rather than a gauge somebody reads when they remember.
- LevelPro stainless steel, IP66 and IP68, 0-10 V or 4-20 mA, RS232 for configuration
- LevelSlick FEP coated for viscous, particulate and corrosive liquids
- Level sensor range capacitive, no moving parts, factory calibrated
Engine oil debris
Engine wear arrives in the oil first. Capturing and counting ferrous debris in real time gives a decision point while the component is still a component.
- WearDetect fine and coarse ferrous debris, water presence and oil temperature
- WearDetect with Display the same sensor with an integrated readout
- Condition monitoring 0-10 V, 4-20 mA, CANbus or Modbus RTU output models
Test cell and dynamometer
A test cell exists to find wear and failure early, which makes it the place where oil debris and position feedback earn their keep before the part reaches a car.
- WearDetect real-time ferrous debris during a test programme
- Blade60 60 mm travel with health-check diagnostics
- Blade360 360 degree rotary, IP67, RS485
Trackside wind and weather
Wind, temperature, humidity and pressure change the aerodynamic platform and the tyre, so a run compared against the wrong conditions is a run compared against nothing.
- MaxiMet GMX551 wind, temperature, humidity, pressure, solar and rainfall in one unit
- MaxiMet GMX200 wind only, 0.5 kg, fastest to raise
- WindSonic 2-axis ultrasonic wind, no moving parts
Pit wall and telemetry
Every measurement on the car has to arrive in the same record as the rest, which makes the output protocol part of the sensor choice rather than an afterthought.
- LevelLite voltage or current output, CAN on bespoke builds
- Blade25 PWM, RS232 and RS485 as well as analogue
- WearDetect CANbus and Modbus RTU output models
Garage and setup bay
Setup work needs the same numbers the car will report on track, from a sensor that has not moved since the last check.
- Blade60 configurable travel and switch points via BladeCom
- Blade25 25 mm travel, non-contact, no wear-related drift
- Labcal calibration independent UKAS-accredited calibration, Lab 0625
Transporter and away events
Away from the workshop there is no bench and no spare afternoon, so equipment has to arrive working and go on working without attention.
- MaxiMet GMX200 0.5 kg, single supply, one cable
- WindUltra compact 2-axis, IP69k, low power
- LevelPro IP66 and IP68, corrosion resistant stainless steel
Grandstand and spectator safety
Temporary structures, screens and signage at a circuit are held to wind limits, and the limit has to be judged on the measurement at the structure.
- WindSonic 60 0 to 60 m/s, 0 to 360 degrees with no dead band
- WindObserver 70 precision 2-axis for exposed and extreme sites
- MaxiMet GMX501 multi-parameter station for a fixed installation
Marshal post and flags
Posts around the circuit make local calls about conditions, and a call made on the conditions at the post is better than one made on the conditions at the start line.
- MaxiMet GMX240 compact station with rainfall measurement
- TruMet PW100 infrared optical rain gauge, no moving parts
- WindSonic lightweight 2-axis ultrasonic wind measurement
Track surface and standing water
A wet track is a rainfall and drainage question, and a tipping bucket gauge that has blocked reports a dry circuit in the middle of a shower.
- TruMet PW100 0 to 200 mm/hr, 5 percent accuracy, 0.1 mm resolution
- MaxiMet GMX600 station with optical rainfall measurement
- MetConnect Pt100 and analogue inputs for surface probes
Record and land speed running
Record attempts put every measurement at the edge of its range at once, with one run and no opportunity to repeat it.
- Blade25 non-contact, unlimited mechanical life, IP67
- LevelDefend military-grade level sensing built to the requirement
- WindObserver 90 precision 2-axis wind for high wind speed measurement
Calibration and scrutineering
Where a measurement has to be defended to a regulator or a customer, it needs traceable calibration behind it rather than a note of when it was last checked.
- Labcal UKAS-accredited, Lab 0625, ISO/IEC 17025:2017
- Air velocity calibration anemometers, Pitot tubes and thermal probes
- Pressure and temperature gauges, transducers, thermometers and data loggers
Where performance depends on knowing what is happening
The measurement points on a competition car are everywhere.
Suspension travel. Ride height. Throttle, pedal and steering position. Aerodynamic device position. Fuel, oil and hydraulic level. Engine and gearbox condition. Wind, temperature, humidity and pressure around the vehicle.
The challenge is rarely simply can it be measured?
It is whether it can be measured accurately, repeatedly and reliably in the environment where the measurement actually takes place.
That is where sensing technology becomes part of the engineering design.
When the part moves continuously, the sensor should not have to
A position sensor on a competition car has a difficult job. It needs to resolve small movements accurately while living in an environment full of vibration, heat, fluid and repeated movement.
Contacting mechanisms introduce a wear path into that measurement.
Gill Blade position sensors use non-contact inductive sensing. The sensor and activator remain separate, so there is no mechanical contact between the sensing components as the mechanism moves.
That makes the technology particularly suited to applications such as suspension, ride height, throttle, pedal, steering and aerodynamic device position.
When the part moves continuously, the sensor shouldn’t have to
Blade provides configurable linear and rotary position sensing, including:
- 25 mm linear travel with Blade25
- 60 mm linear travel with Blade60
- 360° rotary measurement with Blade360
- Analogue, PWM, RS232 and RS485 outputs depending on model
- Sealed construction for demanding vehicle environments
Packaging is part of the specification
On a high-performance vehicle, there is rarely a convenient place to put a sensor.
Travel, sensor dimensions, mounting and activator geometry all have to work within a package already defined by suspension geometry, aerodynamics and surrounding components.
Blade separates the sensing element from the passive activator, giving engineers flexibility over how the measurement is incorporated into the mechanical design.
The result is a sensing system designed around the movement being measured, rather than forcing the vehicle to accommodate a conventional sensor mechanism.
Need help with travel, geometry or installation? Our team can work through travel, activator geometry, mounting and output with you.
Get expert adviceFluid level when the fluid won’t sit still
Fuel, oil, coolant and hydraulic fluid all move under acceleration, braking and cornering.
Traditional mechanical level measurement introduces another moving component into an environment already dominated by movement and vibration. Gill capacitive level sensors provide continuous level measurement without a float, using sealed solid-state electronics.
For weight-critical installations, LevelLite combines lightweight construction with voltage and current outputs, and CAN on bespoke sensors.
And for endurance racing, there is a more specific requirement.
When the measurement is part of scrutineering
The Gill catch tank level sensor is ACO Le Mans approved, providing a dedicated solution for the catch-tank level measurement requirement in endurance racing.
- Part : 1804-00-020
- Output : Analogue voltage rising with oil level
Find wear before it becomes a failure
Temperature and pressure tell you how a system is behaving. Oil debris can tell you what is wearing.
Engine and gearbox components can generate ferrous wear particles before a failure becomes apparent through other measurements. WearDetect monitors that debris directly, distinguishing fine and coarse ferrous particles in real time.
That gives engineering teams another source of evidence when deciding whether a component can continue, needs closer inspection or should be removed before failure.
Turn wear into a measurement
WearDetect can be installed as a smart sump-plug replacement or within a bypass circuit. It measures:
- Fine and coarse ferrous debris
- Water presence
- Oil temperature
With outputs including 0-10 V, 4-20 mA, CANbus and Modbus RTU, it can integrate into existing vehicle or test-cell systems.
View WearDetectThe car doesn’t run in a vacuum
Wind, temperature, humidity and pressure affect vehicle behaviour and influence how test data is interpreted.
A forecast tells you what the wider area is expected to experience. A measurement at the circuit tells you what the car actually encountered.
MaxiMet provides compact environmental measurement for trackside and test applications, with configurations covering wind through to temperature, humidity, pressure, solar radiation and rainfall.
For wind measurement alone, WindSonic provides 2-axis ultrasonic measurement without moving parts, with versions covering 0 to 60 m/s and 0 to 75 m/s.
Different measurement points. One engineering objective.
From the suspension corner to the engine bay, from the driver’s controls to the trackside mast, the sensing requirement changes with the application.
Explore the areas where measurement has a direct impact on vehicle performance, reliability and engineering decisions.
Suspension & Ride Height
Measure movement without adding a wear mechanism
Damper travel, ride height and third-element movement are continuous measurements on components moving under load.
Non-contact inductive position sensing removes mechanical contact from the measurement, with linear travel options of 25 mm and 60 mm and IP67 protection.
Engineering: Non-contact inductive position sensing, 25 mm and 60 mm linear travel, IP67.
Throttle, Pedal & Steering
Driver inputs the control system can trust
Throttle, pedal and steering position feed control strategies as well as engineering analysis. Repeatability matters, and some control architectures require independent channels.
Gill provides configurable linear and angular position sensing, including single and dual-channel options.
Engineering: Single and dual channel output, configurable range, angular and linear.
Catch Tank & Oil Level
When the measurement has to satisfy the regulations
Endurance racing places specific requirements around catch-tank measurement. The Gill solution is purpose-built for this application and ACO Le Mans approved.
Engineering: ACO Le Mans approved, analogue voltage rising with oil level, part 1804-00-020.
Fuel & Hydraulic Level
Continuous level without a float
Fuel, hydraulic and coolant levels need to be measured in tanks subject to movement and vibration.
Capacitive level sensing provides continuous measurement without a mechanical float, with different constructions and output options available across the range.
Engineering: Capacitive level sensing, voltage and current outputs on LevelLite, CAN on bespoke sensors.
Engine & Gearbox Condition
Detect wear before it becomes a failure
WearDetect monitors fine and coarse ferrous debris in oil, providing real-time condition information for engines, gearboxes and hydraulic systems.
Engineering: Oil debris sensing, fine and coarse ferrous debris, CANbus or Modbus RTU.
Track & Test Conditions
Measure the environment around the car
Wind, temperature, humidity and pressure all influence vehicle behaviour and test data. Compact weather stations and ultrasonic wind sensors provide local conditions at the circuit or test environment.
Engineering: Compact weather stations, 2-axis ultrasonic wind, trackside and vehicle mounting.
Every lap starts with a measurement
A competition programme extends beyond the car itself.
The test cell, dynamometer, trackside environment, garage and setup bay all contribute to the engineering picture. Measurements need to be captured consistently, transferred into the systems using them and, where required, supported by traceable calibration.
Gill’s portfolio spans position, level, condition and environmental measurement, with integration and calibration supporting the wider engineering workflow.
The sensing behind the performance
Products engineered for competition vehicles and the teams around them, spanning non-contact position sensing, capacitive level measurement, oil debris monitoring, trackside weather and independent calibration across Gill.
Vehicle sensing
Blade position sensors
Non-contact inductive position sensing
The Blade range covers linear and rotary position measurement for chassis, controls and aerodynamic applications. The sensor and passive activator remain separate, eliminating mechanical contact between the sensing components.
Blade Dual Output
Independent channels from one sensing arrangement
Where a control system requires redundant position information, Blade Dual Output provides single or dual-channel analogue output from one non-contact sensing arrangement.
LevelLite
Lightweight capacitive level sensing
Continuous fuel, oil and coolant level measurement without a float, designed for weight-conscious vehicle installations.
WearDetect
Real-time oil debris monitoring
Detect fine and coarse ferrous wear particles in engines, gearboxes and hydraulic systems.
Catch tank level sensor
ACO Le Mans approved oil catch-tank sensor
A single-purpose sensor developed for endurance racing, where catch-tank measurement has to satisfy the regulations rather than simply work.
Wider level sensor range
LevelPro, LevelSlick, LevelDefend and the DD1615 display
Where the fluid, the tank or the environment rules LevelLite out, the rest of the capacitive range covers it, all with no moving parts and fully sealed electronics.
Trackside and fluids
MaxiMet
Compact environmental measurement
Trackside weather measurement in compact configurations, from wind-only instruments through to combined wind, temperature, humidity, pressure, solar radiation and rainfall.
WindSonic
Ultrasonic wind measurement without moving parts
Lightweight 2-axis wind measurement for trackside masts, temporary structures and vehicle mounting.
WindObserver
Precision 2-axis ultrasonic anemometer
The stainless steel open-head range, for circuits and test sites where the wind figure has to be defensible and the sensor has to survive the winter.
WindUltra
Compact heated 2-axis ultrasonic anemometer
The smallest sensor in the range at 270 g, for vehicle-mounted, pit wall and portable trackside positions where size, weight and power decide what fits.
TruMet PW100
Infrared optical rain gauge
Rainfall at the circuit with nothing to tip, block or recalibrate, which matters on a sensor that sits out through a season and has to be right on the one wet session.
MetConnect
Separable weather station
Where MaxiMet puts everything in one housing, MetConnect separates the sensors so each sits at the height it should, and takes third-party instruments alongside Gill measurement.
The measurement should stand up to scrutiny
Motorsport engineering is built around data. The quality of the decision depends on the quality of the measurement behind it.
Gill continues to test and develop its measurement technologies against demanding real-world requirements. Its R and D capability spans ultrasonics, capacitance, electromagnetics, optical sensing, embedded software and mechanical engineering, with products tested against real-world failure modes before reaching customers.
That matters particularly when specifying sensors for high-performance applications, where the difference between a theoretical specification and performance in the vehicle can become very expensive.
Because the measurement still matters after the race
Motorsport programmes rarely operate with instruments from one manufacturer alone.
Anemometers, Pitot tubes, thermal probes, pressure instruments, thermometers, humidity probes and data loggers can accumulate across vehicles, test programmes and seasons.
Labcal is an independent UKAS-accredited calibration laboratory, Lab 0625, operating to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. It provides accredited calibration across six measurement parameters: gas and air flow, air velocity, liquid flow, pressure, temperature and humidity.
The service supports Gill and non-Gill equipment, giving engineering teams a single calibration route for mixed instrumentation.
01 · Gas and air flow
Gas meters · Mass flow controllers · Dispensing systems · Low-flow laboratory to higher-flow industrial
02 · Air velocity
Anemometers · Pitot tubes · Thermal probes
03 · Liquid flow
Flow meters and sensors · Process control equipment · Water used for the accredited capability
04 · Pressure
Gauges · Transducers · Manometers · Transmitters
05 · Temperature
Thermometers · Probes · Thermocouples · Data loggers
06 · Humidity
Hygrometers · Probes · Transmitters
The measurement has to reach the system using it
A sensor is only useful when its measurement reaches the logger, controller or system making the decision.
That means the interface matters just as much as the sensing principle.
Gill supports analogue and digital outputs across the portfolio, including CAN, RS232, RS485, PWM, 4-20 mA and 0-10 V. Blade sensors can also be configured before installation using BladeCom, including travel limits, switch points and output limits.
Integration options
- CAN & RS232 : Vehicle networks and data loggers
- RS485 & PWM : Controllers and embedded systems
- 4-20 mA & 0-10 V : Existing analogue channels
- BladeCom : Configuration before installation
Why motorsport teams specify Gill
Nothing rubbing means nothing to wear
Blade position sensors measure across a gap between the sensor and passive activator, removing mechanical contact from the measurement.
Sealed for demanding environments
Gill’s sensing technologies include sealed constructions for applications exposed to fluid, spray, vibration and demanding environmental conditions.
The sensor fits the application
Linear, rotary, capacitive, ultrasonic and condition-monitoring technologies address different measurement requirements rather than forcing one sensing principle onto every problem.
Measurement without unnecessary mechanics
Non-contact position sensing and capacitive level measurement remove mechanical components from applications where movement, vibration or fluid exposure make them a liability.
From measurement to condition
Gill measures not only where a component is and how much fluid is present, but also what is happening inside the system through oil debris monitoring and environmental measurement.
The wider measurement chain matters
Integration, configuration and independent UKAS-accredited calibration support the journey from physical measurement to usable engineering data.
Engineering the measurement into the vehicle
Explore detailed application guidance covering the sensing requirements behind high-performance vehicle systems.
From the corner to the scrutineer
Gill supplies sensing and measurement technologies for competition vehicles, high-performance vehicle development and the engineering environments around them. The portfolio includes non-contact position sensors, capacitive level sensors, oil debris monitoring, ultrasonic wind sensors, compact weather stations and calibration services.
A non-contact position sensor removes mechanical contact between the sensing element and the moving activator. This eliminates the mechanical wear associated with contacting position mechanisms, which can be valuable in applications involving continuous movement, vibration and limited service access.
Blade includes different configurations for different mechanical requirements. Blade25 provides 25 mm of linear travel and Blade60 provides 60 mm. Blade360 provides 360° rotary measurement.
The activator is the passive moving element detected by the Blade sensor. It is separate from the sensing electronics and can therefore be incorporated into the customer’s mechanical design. Gill can provide guidance on activator geometry and integration.
No. It is a dedicated catch-tank level sensor for endurance racing and is ACO Le Mans approved. It provides analogue output that rises with oil level.
LevelLite is designed for weight-conscious applications. It provides capacitive fuel, oil and coolant level measurement in a lightweight sealed construction, with voltage and current outputs, RS232 for configuration and CAN on bespoke sensors.
WearDetect detects fine and coarse ferrous debris in oil, alongside water presence and oil temperature. It can be used on engines, gearboxes and hydraulic systems and provides analogue or digital outputs for integration with existing systems.
Many Gill sensors provide standard analogue and digital interfaces including CAN, RS232, RS485, PWM, 4-20 mA and 0-10 V. The appropriate output depends on the sensor and receiving system.
Wind, temperature, humidity and pressure can influence vehicle behaviour and the interpretation of test data. Measuring conditions at the circuit provides environmental data associated with the actual test rather than relying on a wider-area forecast.
MaxiMet provides compact weather measurement, with configurations ranging from wind-only measurement through to combined wind, temperature, humidity, pressure, solar radiation and rainfall. WindSonic provides dedicated 2-axis ultrasonic wind measurement.
Yes. Labcal, Gill Group’s independent UKAS-accredited calibration laboratory (Lab 0625), operates to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and calibrates equipment from any manufacturer across gas and air flow, air velocity, liquid flow, pressure, temperature and humidity.
Blade sensors are designed for integration into customer mechanical and electronic systems. The separate sensor and activator arrangement allows the sensing system to be incorporated into the product design, while configurable outputs support different control and data architectures. Gill’s engineering team can advise on mechanical geometry, travel, output and integration requirements.
Speak to our team
Tell us what you need to measure, where and under what conditions. We’ll help you work out the appropriate approach.
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