Radical New Race Car Set To Make Le Mans Debut

[Paul Pless]

[Paul Pless]

[Uncle Duke]

Experimental class, yes?

[Arizona Bay]

Looks like it might be fast in a straight, but how would it handle the curves with that odd geometry? Trip like a Trike, mebbe

[Paul Pless]

Very interesting tire concept. The fronts measure 10/58 - 15, smaller than most mini spares. . .

[Donn]

[Donn]

[Dan McCosh]

There's a couple of flywheel-enhanced cars running as well.

[Paul Pless]

There's a couple of flywheel-enhanced cars running as well.

Do you doubt the all conquering Audis will win again? Its like Le Mans is no longer a challenge and they have to make it harder on themselves since the French won't rise to their level. . .

[John Meachen]

They could have chosen it for Indianapolis when it as presented to the IRL bigwigs.They didn't bite so the ACO gave it the experimental slot.Since a slightly different set of parameters apply at Le Sarthe,they have adapted the monocoque from the Aston Martin LMP.Some good information here: http://www.racecar-engineering.com/a...nical-preview/ .There is normally some streaming coverage of the race online and the excellent Radio Le Mans coverage allows enthusiastic and knowledgeable commentators to share their insights.I have never been to the race (one day.....) but I have tentative plans to drive down the Mulsanne straight in a few weeks time,with a boat on a trailer.Given time I may have a wander round the museum.

[Concordia 33]

Is the right side opening for the drivers R2 unit?

[skuthorp]

I thought it was a chilled compartment for his beer.

[Ross M]

It is interesting that ACO wants the Delta to run 3:45 or slower. It will also be interesting to see what 500 kJ of recovered energy can do for the lap times. I see from John's Racecar Engineering link that Audi has resurrected the pull-rod suspension. Are the huge (previously disallowed) holes over the tires a new anti-aviation measure?

[Gerarddm]

Jeez, what ever happened to good looking race cars? Ugh.

I assume, BTW, that they have worked out the handling issues for that Deltawing. I doubt they'd get to LeMans only to have a "oops, it handles like a trike" moment.

[David G]

I actually kinda like the looks of that car. Sort of a Batmobile meets NHRA Top Fuel dragster.

[Concordia 33]

I thought it was a chilled compartment for his beer.

That could be, I just liked the Star Wars reference better

[Gerarddm]

Actually, the 'ugh' was more for the Audi.

[Paul Pless]

The Audi looks better from the front. . .

[Canoez]

What the heck keeps the front end down? Tunnel underneath?

[BrianW]

That's a nice warehouse!

Very clean!

[Paul Pless]

That's a nice warehouse!

Very clean!

And well lit. . .

[Paul Pless]

What the heck keeps the front end down? Tunnel underneath?

Yeah it has an underbody venturi. Also the car is very light, less than 800 pounds.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

"Radical New Race Car Set To Make Le Mans Debut"...

Takes me back...

http://www.rover.org.nz/images/roverBRM.jpg

[Paul Pless]

Nice to see Morgan competing both in Gt and in LMP2.

[John Meachen]

The Audi looks better from the front. . .

A bit sinister and very efficient but not much by way of visibility for the drivers:this view from Goodwood last year.



Maybe the hydrogen fuel cell car anticipated for next year's race will have more long term effect outside the racing world.

[Monkey Butler]

I've seen that car before. I think it was in an old Speed Racer cartoon.

[Gerarddm]

Those headlamps are serious bling.

Sort of what Lord Vader would drive. ;-)

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

There's a couple of flywheel-enhanced cars running as well.

From the interesting end of the spectrum.


http://www.williamshybridpower.com/news

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I read the accompanying text and I still don't understand why a flywheel drive avoids precession!

[Paul Pless]

I read the accompanying text and I still don't understand why a flywheel drive avoids precession!

Doesn't it have dual flywheels?

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Presumably spun in opposite directions - vertical axis I hope.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Would that eliminate precession?

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

The two sets of forces would be equal and opposite, so if contained within the structure of the flywheel housing have no impact on the vehicle's handling.

Vertical axis for the same reason that ships turbines were (are?) aligned with the keel.

[Presuming Ed]

A bit sinister and very efficient but not much by way of visibility for the drivers:this view from Goodwood last year.

Don't need to be able to see the sky. Only the road. If you look at drivers' helmets, they tend to have really narrow visors, with the top and blocked out.

[John Meachen]

If you consider the proximity of the eyeball to the visor,the helmet is much less of a restriction than the Audi screen,which is almost a metre from the driver's head.Combine this with the wheel wells and the thick screen pillars and there really is very little of the outside world visible.Even if you have a car that is comfortably faster than the opposition,it is quite nice to be able to see them when you are lapping them every few seconds.The open cars are rather better in this respect.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Remember these?

[John Meachen]

I remember the display ads for them in Exchange and Mart."If you've got a four pound ten head-buy a four pound ten helmet" and then the Bell displayed with a £35 price tag.

[purri]

And the Bells of that era didn't fit all but a short skull/ short jawed boxhead.

[Gerarddm]

Klaatu wore that Bell, no?

[John Bell]

I want a Simpson Diamondback:



As for the Deltawing, I hope it goes well.

[Paul Pless]

Stig wannabe

[Paul Pless]

Speaking of helmets, did y'all see this picture of Lew from 37 years ago?

[John Bell]

Stig wannabe

Yeah, but I'd be fat American redneck Stig.

[The Bigfella]

I had a look at a very nice carbon fibre / kevlar helmet recently. A couple of sponsored riders that I met in Indonesia had them. Fabulous things... featherweight... well, 950g

[John B]

What happened with the car. We get nothing here, or if we did , I missed it.

[Paul Pless]

Shunted off course. By a Toyota. . .

[Paul Pless]

Speaking of shunts. And Toyotas. . .

This was pretty big.

[seanz]

Blatant foul!!!

[John B]

Did it show any signs of the possibility of outstanding performance? Or failing that , less understeer than it looks like it should have?