Delta Wing projections?

Watched the unveiling in the Sebring pits. Very cool car. And at the same time I thought that the US racing world would be better off if all the money spent on that thing had instead been spent on USF2000, or any other of the really good US teams, drivers and series that can't find funding. Sorry guys, it's an interesting buzzy little batmobile but I don't get it.

Lots of press on hand and TV cameras running. Maurino Franchitti had to drive past a line of Ferraris as he left the pits, perhaps that will turn up on TV.

 

I am trying to get over tomorrow for qualifying.

 

Cars that resemble their owners, perfect!

 

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It did two laps averaging 2:30. There should be video appearing later today.

Pics

http://www.endurance-info.com/version2/galerie-photo.php?page=945&np=0

 

so if they entered it in GTC....


....they'd still be 15-20 seconds off the pace



any word on what the theoretical "hot lap" time would be at Sebring?

 

2:30

 

I believe that if Enzo Ferrari were here today - he might well say: One does not win a race with a three-legged horse.

 

I seem to remember him saying that aerodynamics are not important either.

 

And that the carburetor was more elegant than the fuel injector.

You seem to have a lot of love tied up with this effort - do you have money in it too?

 

Are there any reliable estimates of how much better the DW's fuel economy will be and how, in an endurance race, that would impact race pace (vs. lap pace)?

 

This is less of an issue than you might imagine as the regulators won't let it be too big of an advantage.

With our KERS at the Ring we could do 10 lap stints which would over the 24 make a difference but they'll only allow us to do 9 lap stints as it would be an unfair advantage.

They try to equalize Petrol and Diesel cars as well by regulating tank size.

 

I do not have a nickel to gain from it doing well and I doubt that my opinions will change much either. It is just that I very much respect forward thinking and creative solutions to problem solving. What I have little patience for is the peanut gallery.

Now if Patrick Head were chiming in I'd listen intently

 

Regardless of the technical merit (or demerit) of this Delta wing concept, I am sure glad that the ACO (and Sebring apparently) gives us a chance to see it perform in its Experimental category and outside classification.

Le Mans is renewing with its tradition of accepting "odd balls" in the race, like it did with the Rover-BRM turbine cars in 1963-6. It did it again with the Howmet turbine cars years later.

I am not qualified to comment on the aerodynamics of the Delta wing, which looks more like a racing sidecar outfit than a race car to me.

As for the understeering that would be inherant to a vehicle with such a narrow track, I am wondering if most of the steering is not done by the rear axle.
I am not suggesting rear wheel steering, but a differential electronically linked to the steering, and modulating the power going to each wheel during cornering.

 

Seven seconds faster than a Honda S2000 but 43 seconds slower than the LMP's.

 

They must have been sandbagging. I read that the Delta Wing will limit its top speed to 300kph for Le Mans so as to fall between P1 and P2. Uh...I don't think slowing it down will be too difficult a task.

 

It will be interesting to watch the LMP's passing them in the curves. Wow...

 

Fixed it for you

 

I really hope they do and I'm not kidding. Could be nasty.

 

i doubt it'll much of an issue of limiting top speed as getting over 180mph with only 300hp is pretty tough.

 

The DW is testing at Sebring today, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday this week. Audi are on track the same days. I'll try to come up with some news of the DW's progress as the week goes on.

It's worth reporting that the car had to pass muster with Nissan before they would sign off on their sponsorship for Le Mans. For the last of four days at Buttonwillow, Nissan brought over their lead drivers from Super GT in Japan, Erik Comas and Michael Krumm. They were very enthusiastic, gave their thumbs up, and the car headed off to Sebring...

 

I have no hard data but was told that the DW was lapping in times competitive with the P2 prototype cars. Also it has not once tipped over