348 With Wing ?

Did 348 Challenge cars ever have rear wings? If so were they worth the drag for the downforce? The LeMans cars had them , but for American tracks would the cost (obtainable?) be worth the effort?

 

348 Challenge never raced with wings, but for the LeMans Cars they were used. (348 Competizione) The one and only "Wing Car" was the 355 after the update for the 1995 (or was it 1996?) season.

If you running with a rear wing on the 348, please make sure that you also check your front downforce otherwise the result is just (more) understeering.

 

Thank you for the reply! I am mostly wondering because the deck lid of my car has holes in it , where I assume someone hada wing installed at some time.

 

You may want to talk to David Scott. I seem to remember a photo of 348's racing, all
with wings. May have been at Mugello for the finals. I know that his was raced that way.
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I too thought they never had wings, but was told that in the last year they were allowed. I found that out a few weeks ago at an HSR event. That being told, I know one person who will no without dobt.

 

Any sources to get one? I plan on seting mine up for HSR/SVRA ,no sense running it in SCCA races where a $3000 mazda has nothing to lose with contact in a turn!

 

My car illegal as a 348C was lighten and ran splitter and wing and it made a huge difference. I was faster than any 355C I ever ran across and surprised a few 360's fwiw. The lightness compensated greatly for lack of 50hp over the 355c. My brakes worked better and cage welded to shock towers made a huge difference in handling too. This reading is with 1/2 tank gas and me in car stock motor 315hp at the crank maybe?
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This is correct. There are 348CH around cars with wings (like David's, for ex.), but they didn't race in the Challenge Series that way, nor did the 355CHs during their first year (when the 348s were still eligible, albeit as a separate class).