The test day is this Sun (3 Jun) and some teams have already arrived and started to set up their cars. This will be the first real indicator whether the DeltaWing is actually on schedule and able to make the 24H (16-17 Jun).
Number zero: ---------- edit: Apparently some people can't see this pic but you can clearly see the "0" designation in the pic above.
The DeltaWing ran today in the first test session on the pace with LM P2 cars, though the team claim they are on a conservative setup and not pushing at all. The goal so far has been to see that it is stable on Mulsanne Straight, etc, gather data, and put in enough laps to qualify the two drivers that needed a minimum of 10 laps each to qualify as eligible for the race.
2012 is the DeltaWing's year for the Pit Garage 56 technology demo entry but (FWIW) here is the car that's been given the "honor" for 2013, the Green GT H2. Though odd looking, this one isn't supposed to be demonstrating drag and aero related things like the DeltaWing. Its tech trick is that it's powered by a hydrogen cell and two electric motors driving the rear wheels.
DeltaWing on-track test pics here: deltawing - Images - Le Mans Test Day - On*Track ... report here: deltawing - News - NISSAN DELTAWING COMPLETES STRONG DEBUT AT LE*MANS
I'm excited to see them doing well to this point. Really looking forward to new ideas showing up in racing. All the spec racing is starting to get old.
I'm still trying to figure out how this works. When they pitched the concept to the ACO, the ACO approved but only given certain design goals, including a 3min 45sec lap time target. The others design goals we heard about earlier; half the drag, half the fuel, half the power, etc. The DeltaWing folks claim the car was then built to spec with a 3:45 target (and they're happy to be only about 2sec shy so far in testing). I don't understand why the ACO would establish a lap time expectation for a technology demonstrator / experimental car, and why that particular time? Meh, it's probably just a reasonable goal, as in no slower than 3:45 so the thing will be able to keep up with the other prototypes. That puts it in the mid-range of the known LM P2 lap time ball park. I'm so accustomed to the ACO setting and changing rules over the years in order to try to control who does how well that I'm looking for conspiracy between the lines. Like..."we don't want you to go any faster than 3:45 so we'll know you can't embarrass any of the big boys" (P1). No need to question whether they ever had a snowball's chance of hanging with the P1s, my point is why would the ACO overtly establish a time / speed target that's clearly below the P1 mark? :skep: I'm looking for conspiracy for no reason, right?
Meh, it's probably just a reasonable goal, as in no slower than 3:45 so the thing will be able to keep up with the other prototypes. That puts it in the mid-range of the known LM P2 lap time ball park. I think this is exactly it. There's such a huge speed disparity between the classes - well it used to be worse - that I think they just wanted to make sure they weren't a rolling chicane. I have several friends who will be attending the race, I should get some first hand reports that I can pass on.
While watching Speed's Wind Tunnel last night Dave Dispain was talking to Tommy Kendall. The subject of the Delta Wing came up. Tommy thought it was interesting but thinks that it will get in a few wrecks. Drivers will try to fit the note in a hole to pass and forget how wide the rear is, clipping the wings, so to speak.
OK let's just suppose that it finishes the race and does a decent job doing it, where will it race next? If it indeed does have some sort of rear or all wheel steering system, what series would allow it? Maybe Panoz can make a class for it in ALMS.....?
I've heard that one before. I had the same thought myself but once the DeltaWing drivers have a little experience with it I think the greater danger is from the slower cars they're overtaking, esp. in corners. Even if the DW driver allows enough space the driver being passed needs to account for the rear of the DW when he decides how/where to cut back toward the racing line. Same problem essentially but relies on every slower driver remembering to account for the wider rear of the car instead of just sighting on the near side of the nose he sees in his rear view. I like the look of the black car but they may decide at least the rear half needs to be as bright and visible as possible.
It's wonderful to see a racing car designed to achieve more with radically less - Colin Chapman would be jealous. My concern is over aerodynamics at high speed. I can see the low drag part working fine, but it looks to me like the centre of lateral pressure will be in about the same place as on a conventional race car, but the centre of gravity appears to be much further back than usual. This came up when discussing aero stability with my neighbour who has done the popular swap of a Subaru Legacy flat-four into his water-cooled VW Transporter (bus) and found that high speed stability has been compromised. Same issue - side profile unchanged but centre of gravity has moved back.