- DeltaWing
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DeltaWing 
Constructor All American Racers Designer(s) Ben Bowlby Technical specifications[1][2] Chassis Aston Martin AMR-One tub[3] with Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System bodywork panels Length 183.07 in (465.0 cm) Width 78.74 in (200.0 cm) Height 40.55 in (103.0 cm) Axle track 23.6 in (600 mm) (front)
66.93 in (1,700 mm) (rear)Wheelbase 120.8 in (3,070 mm) Engine 1.6 L (98 cu in) I4 turbocharged Transmission 5-speed sequential manual , torque-vectoring differential Weight 1,047 pounds (475 kg) Tyres Michelin Competition history Notable entrants Highcroft Racing The DeltaWing is a racing car designed by Ben Bowlby scheduled to debut at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans. The entry will run under the Project 56 name, composed of Ben Bowlby's DeltaWing Racing Cars (design), Dan Gurney's All American Racers (constructor), Duncan Dayton's Highcroft Racing (racing team) and International Motor Sports Association owner Don Panoz (advisor).
Contents
2012 IndyCar
The project began in January 2009, when Bowlby started to design a new IndyCar Series vehicle meant to be field starting in the 2012 season. With financial backing from Chip Ganassi, owner of major squad Chip Ganassi Racing, the prototype was unveiled in February 2010 at the Chicago Auto Show. In July 2010, IndyCar chose a Dallara design instead.
Sports car development
In June 2011 it was announced that the car will get the 56th spot at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, reserved for experimental vehicles.
The DeltaWing was designed to reduce aerodynamic drag dramatically, to allow a marginally faster straight and corner speed than a 2009-2011 Dallara IndyCar on both ovals and road/street courses with half as much weight, engine power and fuel consumption. As the name suggests, it has a delta wing shape, with an unusually narrow 0.6m front track and a more traditional 1.7m rear track. The car lacks any front or rear wings - downforce comes from the underbody. The model to run at La Sarthe will have a four-cylinder turbocharged 300 bhp engine, a 40 L fuel tank, a weight of 475 kg and a drag coefficient of 0.24.
The radical design of the DeltaWing is meant to attract leading technology companies back to motorsport to investigate on new ideas to tackle fuel efficiency, and thus to gain attention from the public into the sport.
References
- ^ 2012 - Deltawing - 24 Hours of Le Mans (pamphlet), Michelin
- ^ "DeltaWing Le Mans 24 Hour in 2012 Technical Features". DeltaWing Racing Cars. June 9, 2011. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. http://deltawingracing.com/2011/06/deltawing-24-heures-du-mans-in-2012-technical-features/. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
- ^ Fuller, Michael J. (September 13, 2011). "9.13.11". Mulsanne's Corner. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/62FQgw2tg. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
- Inside The Delta Wing Project - Speed, Robin Miller, 10 February 2010
- Exploring the Delta Wing concept - The Way It Is, Gordon Kirby, 22 February 2010
- Pruett, Marshall (August 2011). "Project 56". Racecar Engineering (Chelsea Magazine Company) 21 (8): 44-48.
External links
Categories:- 24 Hours of Le Mans race cars
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