DeltaWing Racing Cars

June 16, 2011 Gary Gastelu interview with Ben Bowlby on Fox Car Report (starting at 4:50 in the video).

DeltaWing Racing Car Selected by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) for the 24 Heures du Mans in 2012

DeltaWing design and technology will be utilized by Project 56 Partners.

Two seat DeltaWing will focus on innovation to achieve ultra energy efficiency and 24 hour performance

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (June 9, 2011) – DeltaWing Racing Cars, of Indianapolis, today announced a major project milestone.

“We are pleased to announce a licensing agreement with the “Project 56 Partners” to utilize the DeltaWing design and technology for their participation in the 24 Heuers du Mans in June, 2012,” said Ben Bowlby, the concept’s originator. The Project 56 group includes Dan Gurney’s All American Racers, Dr. Don Panoz and Highcroft Racing.

“The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) has shown great vision in creating an opportunity for an innovative and experimental vehicle such as the DeltaWing to participate “outside the classifications” in this famous event. The race has a long and glorious history, featuring the most advanced and technologically relevant racing cars. We are thrilled to have been invited to join the list of innovators and to honor the Spirit of Le Mans,” said Bowlby.

Visit www.deltawingracing.com and Project 56 at Highcroft Racing and All American Racers for additional information.

Specifications

Key Technical Features

• Engine and transmission are “non-stressed members” of the chassis structural design which allows teams to install a wide variety of lightweight powertrains
• The car features a liquid cooled 4 cylinder 1600cc intercooled turbocharged engine that will produce approximately 300 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and weigh 70kg
• Transmission is a 5 speed plus reverse longitudinal design with an electrical sequential paddle shift actuation. The differential features an efficient variable torque steer/differential speed-controlled planetary final drive reduction layout with the entire transmission weighing only 33kg
• Vehicle weight distribution is necessarily more rearward than traditionally seen with 72.5% of the mass on the larger rear tires
• 76% of the aerodynamic downforce acts on the rear of the car which has an lift to drag ratio of >5.0
• Rear wheel drive coupled with the rearward weight and aerodynamic distributions greatly enhances inline acceleration capability
• Unique amongst today’s racing cars more than 50% of the vehicles braking force is generated behind the center of gravity giving a dynamically stable response
• Locking propensity of the un-laden front wheel at corner entry is greatly reduced due to virtually no front lateral load transfer with the narrow track & wide rear track layout, steered wheel “scrub drag” moment is virtually zero greatly increasing tire utilization and reducing mid turn understeer
• Advanced computer modeling of structures, impact energy management, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics and tires has been used to develop the DeltaWing design
• Driver position, restraint layout and energy absorbing structures designed to meet the latest occupant survival criteria

View and save a PDF document of Le Mans 24 Hour 2012 Key Technical Features here.

Click the following links for additional news and information about DeltaWing Racing and Project 56 at Le Mans 2012.

• June 16, 2011 Gary Gastelu interview with Ben Bowlby on Fox Car Report (starting at 4:50 in the video).
• Fox News Report