Apparently Don Panoz's way forward for the DeltaWing involves virtually no one else who's been involved so far. The vehicle is also changing, and that includes turning it into a coupe. EXCLUSIVE! ALMS: Panoz Returning With New DeltaWing Engines, Chassis (speedtv.com)
That's not far from the way I read it. I figured most simply weren't even invited to play, others walked away. On the plus side, in the past when Don Panoz put cars on the track interesting things happened. Here's hoping there's some entertainment before the fat lady gets to sing.
Don has done some good stuff in the past but the field of dreams was just a movie. The Deltawing is the answer to a question no one asked and at a time when sports car racing seems to be consolidating classes, he's off building a chassis with no series. Don Panoz or is it Don Quixote? Lol
maybe he is hoping to start a "spec" racing series for it and then he gets to supply everything for everyone..
What I got out of it is he wants to be an engine supplier to many top tier teams, and this is his way of getting his engine into the limelight.
If true that sure would be going all the way around the barn to get to the front door. Wouldn't putting an engine in the hands of a top team who could actually compete and win in a series go a lot farther than putting it in something that can only beat itself at best? Nope, too many big dogs including Nissan have walked away, he is now in salvage mode. 2cents.
I'm sure some of the "backers" joined in, in the beginning just to be apart of what was a great chance to get it approved for Indy car.. Didn't get that so they went Endurance racing, ok that was fun, we proved it would work, spent a ton of money, so now what.. Moved on to something else that may actaully parlay into something.. Sadly this car is going no where any time soon I don't think... As minimark said, this car/chassis has no series to run in...
How many road racing series do you think would allow the use of torque vectoring (the magic genie in the deltawing)? I'm thinking it would fall under a driver aid....which the likes of F1 and NASCAR (Grand Am) have banned...? Heck isn't it even banned now from WRC?
I always wondered how the thing would work with the torque vectoring diff but I'm pretty sure they never got it working well enough to use it. No idea whether Panoz is still pushing that aspect though given the way the car worked without the diff I'd be surprised if he continues to spend money trying to develop it.
We haven't even mentioned that Dan Gurney and his all American racers have also left the building without letting the door hit them in the butt... Gurney was a real source of credibility.
Michelin pulls out too... As well as like everyone else involved... Read more: Michelin latest piece of DeltaWing team to pull out of racing project - Autoweek
Here's the new look for the open cockpit version. More visible than the all black version? DELTAWING LIVERY UNVEILED (DRC Press Release)
Maybe, but I figure they also wanted to break away from the black version's very public exposure with NISSAN all over it in big bold letters. I'm not so sure the chrome look will greatly aid visibility. I remember at least one driver complaining after Petit LeMans about not being able to see some other car (can't remember which) that was almost all chrome, esp. when it was coming from behind and amongst other traffic. I can imagine Panoz deciding the chrome will look cool though. It's at Sebring now, getting ready for the 12H. Here's another look.
Revise your car with a different engine, set its debut race expectations relatively low. Smart. Revised DeltaWing makes test debut (Racer.com) edit: I was wrong, just a new engine so far, they're still using the Aston Martin AMR-One tubs at this point. The new tub will be used for the coupes they're already working on.