|
| All news content copyright Michael J. Fuller, unless otherwise noted |
 |
10.5.09
>>Don't forget to check out the Petit Le Mans photo gallery. |
9.30.09
Petit Le Mans news:
 >>Speaking to Nick
Wirth on Friday in the paddock, he was excited with the prospects of a wet race and he got his
wish. Unfortunately it still didn't play into the ARX-02a's
hands. There are those on the teams that feel the wide front tire
concept simply hasn't worked.
We also spoke briefly about
the Scott Sharp incident. Wirth mentioned that everything was
destroyed in the accident, "...even things like the battery box were
destroyed." The replacement tub was the 3rd chassis, and more
notably, the only replacement chassis. There are no others.
After
their rebuild, Highcroft "cribbed" their chassis setup from De Ferran.
Apparently that's been the nature of the relationship all season,
no competitive barriers between the organizations.
Which
leads us to what we're hearing about the future of the Acura program.
It is growing less likely that we'll see Acura return (Gordon Kirby has already said Acura is done). We
understand HPD staff has been let go and we also understand that since
about mid-season the HPD effort has had it's budget cut such that there
are no spares on the shelves, everything is made to order from Wirth
Research with a 6 week delivery time. Has Acura already made a
decision? It's looking likely and it won't be the one we'd like
to see.
>>Audi Motorsports head Wolfgang
Ullrich was heard over the race track PA system talking with Radio Le
Mans about the future of the Audi R15, and it was interesting to hear
him mention the hold up with the ACO over the future regulations might
cause pause for Audi to continue forward. At very least it was,
in his words, "...frustrating". Completely understandable
considering, as mentioned on these pages, the ACO draft regulations for
2010 face us with regulation changes for next year in the face of major
changes for 2011 which doesn't make an ounce of sense. But at the
same time we understand that in all actuality Audi is well into the
design of the R15's successor ("successor" as a 2010 update of the R15
or a true 2011 car we're unsure--but we can imagine both are underway)
such that Audi Motorsports was operating with a skeleton crew at Petit;
most of their engineers were back in Germany working away on the new
car.
>>A
Michelin engineer was overheard confirming that Audi's issue at Le Mans this
year were tire and downforce related. Apparently the R15
generates significant downforce and a factor fold more than the Peugeot
908 which could nearly triple stint its tires at Le Mans.
>>We're
told the ECO Radical tipped the scales into the 4-digits, i.e., well
past the 900 kgs minimum. They were a non-starter due to
over-heating concerns. Ironic considering the ambients on race
day were a good 15 degrees below what had been seen throughout the week.
Check out Race Car Engineering's Acura ARX-02a and Audi R15 articles |
9.20.09
 >>It was another
rainy day at Road Atlanta. Drizzle persisted off and on though
fortunately there wasn't the downpours associated with yesterday.
All of the prototypes present (Acura, Audi, Autocon, Drayson
Lola, Oreca-Courage), barring Peugeot, made it out on track
today. |
 >>This
week the Audi is running the revised specification that the car raced
in at Le Mans this year. Here we see the revised engine cover.
The revisions to the rear engine cover were apparently as a
direct result of a request from the ACO. |  >>Here's the engine cover as Audi raced at Sebring this year. |
|
 >>The nose vent exit is reduced, again, as raced at Le Mans this year.
Interestingly,
one of Audi's issue at Le Mans this year was a result of the
downforce load the car was carrying and the Michelin tire's inability
to
cope with those loads. This was a known issue ahead of the race
and much time and effort was put into finding a solution.
Ultimately, given the short time frames (8 weeks before the
race), this led to a compromise in the car's setup. In order to
reduce front load the chassis was raked nose up. This led to
the third spring element to be fully packed out with bump rubbers,
effectively compromising grip and traction in the
critical areas of the track (Porsche curves, Ford chicane).
In
addition to the tire issue, it is our understanding that the R15 was
also simply carrying too much drag for Le Mans. Apparently
the ducts that channel air through the rear of the car were
generating too much drag for downforce gained. The suspension
shrouds were an attempt to mitigate this but their effects were
negligible and the shrouds were effectively invisible from a drag
reduction standpoint, hence they were on (Sebring, one car ran them the
other didn't) and then off the car (Le Mans and now Petit).
At
the moment the R15 is being revised for 2010 and the Petit Le Mans is
being considered a post-Le Mans test session with the revised 2010 car
in mind. |
 >>This is our first close up look at the Oreca 01 AIM. This is a shot of the rear diffuser strake, notice the cut outs. |
 >>Full louvers but for one for the Oreca at Road Atlanta. |
 >>Ok,
so I was a little overly critical of the Eco Radical effort yesterday.
In fairness the car seems much better turned out than the last
time I saw the car at Sebring in 2008. Recall then ( 3.19.08 entry)
that the rear wheels weren't even centered in the wheel wells; clearly
that car never was going to race anywhere. Well much to their
credit, the diesel Radical was out turning laps today (and yesterday),
even in the wet. |
|
9.19.09
 >>Today's
running at Road Atlanta in preparation for the Petit Le Mans this
coming weekend was effectively washed out and culminated in a
gully washer just after noon time. IMSA canceled running as clay
was washing onto the track, the paddock, pit lane, etc., etc. |
 >>Teams used the time to set up and simply catch up on car maintenance. Drayson had their new Lola to bits. |
 >>Audi
were working away. It's good to see them back. The R15 is
in Le Mans specification but Road Atlanta trim (downforce levels).
So essentially that means all the non-circuit specific
modifications we saw on the Audi (turbo intake, revised rear wing
endplate mounts, air vent behind front wheel trailing edge, etc.) are
on the car this week. |
 >>The
Eco Radical SR10 has arrived. Ian Dawson was seen looking over
the details. We understand they are slated to run through the
scrutineering line on Wednesday at 11:40am. Is it being cynical
in pointing out they will be one of the last teams to run through the
tech line? |
 | Inside IMSA's Legendary GTP Race Cars, The Prototype Experience
|
Get your copy today! Interested in purchasing a signed copy? Contact me. Limited quantities available.
|
|
|
|
 |  | Aerodynamicist
and automotive enthusiast Paul T. Glessner presents "The Secrets
&
Basics of Vehicle Aerodynamics" Seminars. See why more cars
are going
faster and doing it more safely and in style. Paul has been
asked
to speak at venues like Bob Bondurant School of High Performance
Driving,
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Specialty Equipment Marketing
Assoc.
(SEMA), and Performance Racing Industry (PRI). Paul's
seminars both
educate and entertain. The day long seminar can be held at
your club,
organization and/or company location with the organizer paying only
$100.
(click event date in site) to read
about Paul's
extensive background and testimonials from enthusiasts like Jay
Leno.
Schedule your seminar at www.aeroseminars.com! | |
"While
I am not an engineer or a major technical type, I enjoy the discipline
of aerodynamics and was pleased at how Paul was able to explain its
intricacies
to individuals like me." - Jay Leno, Tonight Show Host |
|
