Sad but inspiring..
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The race has always intended to separate cars that are fast for two hours from those that are fast as long as you care to race. What really happens is cars compete for two hours but are built to compete at LeMans. Which is the intent - "car racing" is most relevant when the racers are driving actual cars.
LeMans is intentionally different than formula races. Even prototypes have to provide room for a passenger but will never, ever, carry one. LeMans is a car race, not a racecar competition a la Grand Prix racing. By conscious intent.
The prototype class lets manufacturers exercise new technology, and there is always an exhibition spot reserved for something that just doesn't fit but deserves exposure. In between you have the World Cup of race teams. It's not just about the car, the brand, or the drivers. It's about the sum of the parts. Drivers who know not to stress the car, a pit team that can function around the clock, a car that can survive on the same trans, motor, diff, oil, just needs brake and rubber swaps. Luck is huge, but drivers that can be fast without breaking the car are gold.
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Originally Posted by Slithr' timestamp='1340388168' post='21803599
... The car took a pretty tough shot into the wall. Who knows what would have been torn off had it been more traditional in terms of layout.
...
...
However, the DeltaWing car hit the wall and broke. That's something a car of any design is capable of
The only reason it was running at LeMans is they reserve a spot for a non-compliant car to race, demonstrating new technology or design. Given the primary, consistent requirement in LeMans is all cars must have space for a passenger, the DeltaWing car was never designed to run in that environment. It was simply a marketing opportunity for Nissan.
Not finishing LeMans is normal so I'm not writing off the DeltaWing as a failure, but in order to be a successful racecar it has to have competition. And as capable as the car may be, it's got nowhere to compete.
He hopes the DeltaWing will race in more of the 2012 World Endurance Championship events. This will be decided by the FIA and the ACO (the Le Mans organizing body), but the odds are strongly in its favor that the car will see the track again this year. Additionally, Nissan sells a lot of cars in Japan and Brazil, and both have WEC races later this year.
“The car will race at Petit Le Mans in October,” Panoz says. “We hope in 2013 it will be eligible to race as both a LMP1 and a LMP2 car. Of course regulations need to be written, similar to those when the diesel-powered cars [Audi and Peugeot] entered sports-car racing.” He also said the DeltaWing could become the spec car for the LMPC class in American Le Mans Series in 2014.
Panoz reflected on how quickly endurance racing is changing. “A couple of years ago, everyone said the front tires needed to be as wide as the rear tires on a prototype. With the DeltaWing,” he continued, “we have proven that a car with a fraction of the size of the conventional thinking, that has half the mass, half the power and a brilliant design can compete. This is the truly green racing.”
He concluded with this statement: “When people ask me why I got involved with the DeltaWing, my response is simply 'Why not?'
“The car will race at Petit Le Mans in October,” Panoz says. “We hope in 2013 it will be eligible to race as both a LMP1 and a LMP2 car. Of course regulations need to be written, similar to those when the diesel-powered cars [Audi and Peugeot] entered sports-car racing.” He also said the DeltaWing could become the spec car for the LMPC class in American Le Mans Series in 2014.
Panoz reflected on how quickly endurance racing is changing. “A couple of years ago, everyone said the front tires needed to be as wide as the rear tires on a prototype. With the DeltaWing,” he continued, “we have proven that a car with a fraction of the size of the conventional thinking, that has half the mass, half the power and a brilliant design can compete. This is the truly green racing.”
He concluded with this statement: “When people ask me why I got involved with the DeltaWing, my response is simply 'Why not?'
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From: Palo Alto
The irony of Panoz's statement about tire widths is one of the reason his front engined racers worked so well is because the rules basically gave the cars more front tire than needed but not enough back tire. So moving weight forward (ie front engine) was good for the cars back then because it better balanced the loads on the tires they were allowed.
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Originally Posted by NuncoStr8' timestamp='1340484217' post='21806001
[quote name='Slithr' timestamp='1340388168' post='21803599']
... The car took a pretty tough shot into the wall. Who knows what would have been torn off had it been more traditional in terms of layout.
...
... The car took a pretty tough shot into the wall. Who knows what would have been torn off had it been more traditional in terms of layout.
...
However, the DeltaWing car hit the wall and broke. That's something a car of any design is capable of
The only reason it was running at LeMans is they reserve a spot for a non-compliant car to race, demonstrating new technology or design. Given the primary, consistent requirement in LeMans is all cars must have space for a passenger, the DeltaWing car was never designed to run in that environment. It was simply a marketing opportunity for Nissan.
Not finishing LeMans is normal so I'm not writing off the DeltaWing as a failure, but in order to be a successful racecar it has to have competition. And as capable as the car may be, it's got nowhere to compete.
He hopes the DeltaWing will race in more of the 2012 World Endurance Championship events. This will be decided by the FIA and the ACO (the Le Mans organizing body), but the odds are strongly in its favor that the car will see the track again this year. Additionally, Nissan sells a lot of cars in Japan and Brazil, and both have WEC races later this year.
“The car will race at Petit Le Mans in October,” Panoz says. “We hope in 2013 it will be eligible to race as both a LMP1 and a LMP2 car. Of course regulations need to be written, similar to those when the diesel-powered cars [Audi and Peugeot] entered sports-car racing.” He also said the DeltaWing could become the spec car for the LMPC class in American Le Mans Series in 2014.
Panoz reflected on how quickly endurance racing is changing. “A couple of years ago, everyone said the front tires needed to be as wide as the rear tires on a prototype. With the DeltaWing,” he continued, “we have proven that a car with a fraction of the size of the conventional thinking, that has half the mass, half the power and a brilliant design can compete. This is the truly green racing.”
He concluded with this statement: “When people ask me why I got involved with the DeltaWing, my response is simply 'Why not?'
“The car will race at Petit Le Mans in October,” Panoz says. “We hope in 2013 it will be eligible to race as both a LMP1 and a LMP2 car. Of course regulations need to be written, similar to those when the diesel-powered cars [Audi and Peugeot] entered sports-car racing.” He also said the DeltaWing could become the spec car for the LMPC class in American Le Mans Series in 2014.
Panoz reflected on how quickly endurance racing is changing. “A couple of years ago, everyone said the front tires needed to be as wide as the rear tires on a prototype. With the DeltaWing,” he continued, “we have proven that a car with a fraction of the size of the conventional thinking, that has half the mass, half the power and a brilliant design can compete. This is the truly green racing.”
He concluded with this statement: “When people ask me why I got involved with the DeltaWing, my response is simply 'Why not?'
[/quote]
What part of my post isn't true?
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,289
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by liquid_helix136' timestamp='1340956779' post='21820921
... Those rules are lame, and it was a pretty sad vid.. until he rode off gay ninja style on the scooter, then I lol'd
The race has always intended to separate cars that are fast for two hours from those that are fast as long as you care to race. What really happens is cars compete for two hours but are built to compete at LeMans. Which is the intent - "car racing" is most relevant when the racers are driving actual cars.
LeMans is intentionally different than formula races. Even prototypes have to provide room for a passenger but will never, ever, carry one. LeMans is a car race, not a racecar competition a la Grand Prix racing. By conscious intent.
The prototype class lets manufacturers exercise new technology, and there is always an exhibition spot reserved for something that just doesn't fit but deserves exposure. In between you have the World Cup of race teams. It's not just about the car, the brand, or the drivers. It's about the sum of the parts. Drivers who know not to stress the car, a pit team that can function around the clock, a car that can survive on the same trans, motor, diff, oil, just needs brake and rubber swaps. Luck is huge, but drivers that can be fast without breaking the car are gold.
Makes sense then, thanks for the explanation
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