Le Mans-style racing: almost the last bastion of innovation?

"So I'm skeptical of what we see today, namely the final assault of the one-design philosophy on the top ranks of the sport. In Formula 1, the FIA's attempt to introduce stricter rules to cut costs and encourage green technologies at the same time exhibits some of the typical pitfalls of top-down government policy-making. Champ Car has officially gone down the 'spec' car route, and the IRL has done so unofficially. NASCAR's effort to update its technology with the Car of Tomorrow looks likely to introduce even greater technical uniformity.

Le Mans-style sports car racing has emerged as almost the last bastion of innovation, with the success of Audi's turbo diesel in last year's 24 Hours drawing Peugeot back to Le Mans [Peugeot officially announced a return to Le Mans in June, 2005), and several carmakers exploring hybrid-powered projects. It's no accident that this type of racing has attracted more new factory teams than any other over the last couple of seasons."

- http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=2811

 

i agree, it should be seen as the pinnacle of automotive design and technology. The cars are too similar to each other. I still watch every race though

"Similarly, the ever-shrinking scope for technical innovation must reduce the sport's appeal to young engineering talent and even the world's automobile manufacturers. Reducing racing to so much more of a marketing than a technical exercise must surely make it more difficult for carmakers to maintain their commitment to the sport, and hamper their ability to call upon R&D as well as advertising budgets."

 

Endurance racing will allow technology like hybrid to make it into motorsport and show that fuels other than fosil can be used for competitve racing. This will truely be innovation.
I predict we will see hybrid like race cars in the very near future that will compete at top levels once teams realize that less pit-stops means more track time.

My long term prediction is that the cars can drive longer than the drivers can keep their eyes open.

 

I agree.

F1 has little innovation because the teams have strict regulations. Back in the days when teams were experimenting with turbos, 6 wheeled cars, tall wings, etc was when advancements were made, not so much anymore.

 

I agree that F1 is dead ... but last time I looked at endurance racing the cars all looked just as similar to each other as F1 cars do.

In the end guys, we have worked out how to make a perfect race car, there is nothing more for us to invent. Thus the only changes are minor or based on rules changes ... or using different fuels.

This was always going to happen as we reached complete understanding of the dynamics of a vehicle. It was fun watching as we learnt ... but there is nothing more to learn .

Pete

 

Audi is allowed to develop a diesel endurance car. An F1 car can't have an V engine bank outside of a certain degree.

 

F1 blows, Endurance racing is much better

 

So when will the maufacturerers and the $$$ figure this out? Right now, the money is in F1.

I think there is room for both, F1 and endurance racing. F1 has to stop trying to please everyone. F1 is supposed to be expensive. This two race engine rule is really stupid. Trying to be "green" is really stupid. F1 should just go for technology at any expense. F1 should just be a "balls out" racing venue, to heck with being politically correct.

Endurance racing should be the series that brings us down to reality. Audi's move, and now Peugeot, going diesel is a step in the right direction. This is technology, but in a different way. I would not want to see diesel F1 cars. But when it comes to a 12 hour or a 24 hour race, this kind of innovation is terrific.

 

It's not quite THAT bad, but technology certainly has replaced engineering