The unique DeltaWing race car intended for IndyCar is being approved for the 24 Hours of LeMans, the world’s oldest endurance race for sports cars.
DeltaWing concept, a cutting-edge racecar that brings together a diverse group of motorsports veterans in a consortium that calls itself Project 56.
Some of the biggest names in American motorsport will join forces for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans to showcase a unique concept demonstrating extreme performance with half the weight and horsepower of a traditional racing car.
The Project 56 group brings together the design talents of DeltaWing Racing Cars LLC; the manufacturing capabilities of All American Racers – the company owned by 1967 Le Mans winner and American racing legend Dan Gurney; and back-to-back American Le Mans Series championship winning racing team, Highcroft Racing.
American Le Mans Series founder Dr. Don Panoz has also joined the project as a key advisor.
The group has received an invitation from Le Mans 24 Hour race organizers, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to contest the 2012 race as an additional 56th entry.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 475kg Horsepower: 300 BHP Wheel base: 2.9 m Drag: Cd 0.24 Front track: 0.6m Rear track: 1.7m Length: 4.65 m Width: 2.00m Height: 1.03 m Brakes: Carbon discs/pads Tank capacity: 40 liters Chassis: lightweight composite Front tire: 4.0/23.0 R15 Rear tire: 12.5/24.5 R15 Weight distribution: Front: 27.5% Rear: 72.5%
KEY TECHNICAL FEATURES
• Engine and transmission are “non-stressed members” in the chassis structural design which allows the installation of a wide variety of lightweight powertrains.
• The car features a 4 cylinder 1600cc liquid 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 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 between the wide track larger rear tires.
• 76% of the aerodynamic downforce acts on the rear of the car which has a 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 vehicle’s 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 lateral load transfer with the narrow front 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.
via motorward via racintoday
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