Autosport:- LEMANS: DeltaWing to make debut in 2012 Options

[News Bot]

The radical DeltaWing concept first mooted as a potential IndyCar chassis will race at Le Mans in 2012, built and run by an American consortium involving Le Mans legend Dan Gurney and multiple ALMS champions Highcroft Racing

Read the full story...

[LaughingBoy]

(IMG:http://www.422race.com/wp-content/gallery/lms/deltawing_lemans.jpg)

I can't wait to see this thing run and go round a corner.

[JMFangio]

have to say I have always approved of the way the AC de l'Ouest will encourage new technologies like this, going back to the BRM turbine cars driving by Jackie Stewart & Graham Hill in the 1960s, but like LB I really cannot wait to see how this thing will cope with corners.

[Berger and Chips]

Looks a little like:-

(IMG:http://www.dipler.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/blue-flame.jpg)

I too cannot see how it can go round corners...if they are going to effing fly on the straights then slow dramatically for corners then surely that in itself will represent a danger.

If they intend to actually be competitively quick around corners then I don't get it, has it got uber downforce or something - a fan or wing car concepts?

I don't understand how the only wing it actually appears to have is vertical like a rudder (stability?) and not horizontal with the usual angles on it to create downforce.


Here is some techno blx, but I am still not sold that it will work. Sounds like its all theoretical to me...

Specifications

Total weight: 475Kg
Horsepower: 300 BHP
Wheel base: 2.90m
Aerodynamic drag: Cd 0.24
Front track: 0.6m
Rear track: 1.7m
O/A length 4.65m
O/A width 2.00m
Height 1.03m
Brakes: Carbon discs and pads
Fuel cell capacity 40 litres
Chassis construction: lightweight composite
Front tire: 4.0/23.0 R15
Rear tire: 12.5/24.5 R15
Weight distribution: 27.5% Front (72.5% Rear)

Key Technical Features

* Engine and transmission are "non-stressed members" of the chassis structural design which allows teams to install a wide variety of lightweight powertrains
* The car features a liquid cooled 4 cylinder 1600cc intercooled turbocharged engine that will produce approximately 300 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and weigh 70kg
* Transmission is a 5 speed plus reverse longitudinal design with an electrical sequential paddle shift actuation. The differential features an efficient variable torque steer/differential speed-controlled planetary final drive reduction layout with the entire transmission weighing only 33kg
* Vehicle weight distribution is necessarily more rearward than traditionally seen with 72.5% of the mass on the larger rear tires
* 76% of the aerodynamic downforce acts on the rear of the car which has an lift to drag ratio of >5.0
* Rear wheel drive coupled with the rearward weight and aerodynamic distributions greatly enhances inline acceleration capability
* Unique amongst today's racing cars more than 50% of the vehicles braking force is generated behind the center of gravity giving a dynamically stable response
* Locking propensity of the un-laden front wheel at corner entry is greatly reduced due to virtually no front lateral load transfer with the narrow track & wide rear track layout, steered wheel "scrub drag" moment is virtually zero greatly increasing tire utilization and reducing mid turn understeer
* Advanced computer modeling of structures, impact energy management, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics and tires has been used to develop the DeltaWing design
* Driver position, restraint layout and energy absorbing structures designed to meet the latest occupant survival criteria

[Winston Smith]

"generates the majority of its downforce via the underfloor"

It looks like a fair few people with a lot of know how and reputation are backing it, I don't think it would be racing if it couldn't turn a corner.

[LaughingBoy]

It does indeed go round corners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQOXiRU4orc