New Nissan to Race LeMans

[conedodger]

Close-up...

[conedodger]

Another at speed...

[26th-Z]

Just read in AutoWeek that the DeltaWing will participate in the 2013 ALMS / Grand Am series. As this is a transition year for the newly combined organizasions, the schedule is still to be determined but Sebring was mentioned.

I also read an editorial in Road & Track by Chip Ganassi that discussed a proceedure to advance design within the 'spec' realm. He suggested that the technical specifications of a particular design (say, the Dallara dw12 Indycar) be published. Every year, the rules would then be open to allow design adaptation of a particular component of the car. Year one might open up the design of the front suspension for instance. Designs and testing for improvement of the particular component would not impact the cost structure as much and allow multitudes of new ideas to be investigated. Each year, the different teams would feature individual approaches to advancing the design of the same car everyone else is racing. Interesting approach to contiuing improvement within the cost advantages of 'spec' racing.

Edited October 29, 2012 by 26th-Z

[26th-Z]

Saw this video and thought I would share it.

Hope to finally see the car in Sebring next week. No more Nissan engine as I understand.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

What class is the Deltawing going to run in during the 2013 ALMS / Grand Am series race?

[26th-Z]

That video was the first explanation I have seen of how the car works so well, as counter intuitive as the car seems. I have read little bits in the news about it. Last thing I heard not too long ago was that the Nissan engine was no longer going to be used. I don't remember what engine is going to be used for the season.

ALMS and GranAm won't run together this year. The new schedule and class structure starts in 2014. For this year, I think the DeltaWing is running LMP 2.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

LMP2, that is interesting. I wonder if it has to fit into all the rules of LMP2 (like minimum weight) or if they made some accomodations/exceptions. If they did make concessions I would imagine all the other teams may file protests unless they are ommited from winning points and even still they may complain. If they had to adhere to all the rules, same as anyone else, I welcome the site of them and lets go racing.

If not, then no real comparison can be made for a car that is allowed special treatment.

EDIT:

Never mind, I saw the video now.

417 kg, guess it does not adhere to all of the rules.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Zedyone_kenobi

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I say give them a spec series and let them duke it out. But making them mix with other cars that have to play with other rules just seems, silly.

[LeonV]

I say give them a spec series and let them duke it out. But making them mix with other cars that have to play with other rules just seems, silly.

Seems like the fun part to me. Watching 20 of the same car racing around the track (i.e. spec racing) isn't as fun for me, personally. I find it intriguing how vehemently opposed you are to this car, especially as an engineer...

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I am a man of laws and rules. When I was racing as short lived as that was, I had to obey the rules. I am not ready to get behind this car and call it amazingly innovative, as it lives outside the boundaries of what all the other cars do.

I am not so much opposed to it as I am opposed to the hype it is getting. I would not call it innovative or ground breaking. It is just simple physics that make it work. Maybe the engineer in me does not see anything that really makes me think, what a ground breaking car.

If they could make a car that would go as fast as it does, and get as much mileage as it does, still weight the same as every other LMP2 car on the grid, then that would be a crazy impressive engineering feat. But when you bend the rules and allow a car that weighs half of what the other cars weigh, is it really that amazing that it can do it with less HP and less fuel.

Again, I think this is a nifty car that has some pretty out of the box design in it. But racing, as it is now, is not an out of the box game. The rules make the box.

Now having said that. If they want to expand the rules to allow other cars to weigh 475 kg, then let the racing begin!!!

What bugs me is that any success this car sees will be overhyped and people will go, 'SEE, how great this car is, light cars can go fast as well, and use less fuel'. But that was never an arguement. Naturally a 475 kg car with a smaller engine will go quick and use less gas than a 900 kg car.

This is what I would like to see.

Make the Delta Wing weigh 900 kg like the rest of the cars must weigh, and allow them to run the same engine output as the rest of the field. Then gentlemen start your engines and race. Let us see how good the design really is when it must conform to racing regulatons.

OR....

Reduce the minimum weight of LMP2 cars to 475 kg and see what the chassis builders come up with.

Otherwise, what are we comparing really? I just do not see the point of the car other than to be different. If you had a field of 24 Delta wings, would the racing be any different than any other series where all the rules are adhered to. What makes the car stand out is the fact that it is completely outside the rules and the design shows it. If made to fit inside the rules, and all the cars are deltawings, then it is just another spec series.

Edited March 8, 2013 by Zedyone_kenobi

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Leon, I use to judge engineering competitions for high school students. Hypothetical example, They were told to make a vehcile that had to fit inside a 40 oz folgers metal coffee can that would carry an egg for a certain distance. You had to use this rubber band for your power, and everything else was open.

Every year, one particular design would emerge as the best 'idea' to get the job done. And various versions of the same idea would be built. Now, if one kid was allowed to build a vehicle that fit inside a 60 oz folgers coffee can and used springs and rubber bands, would that make his idea innovative or is he just cheating?

My point is no comparison can be made between the delta wing and other traditional cars, as they were built up differently. It is an apples to oranges comparison.

[LeonV]

A few design constraints are a good thing, but I become disinterested when you constrain everything (i.e. spec series). I say give teams a tire and a power/weight ratio spec and let them have at it! The solutions become much more interesting.