DeltaWing Racing Cars

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.