lemans

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Detroit automakers missed out on a huge…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged ALMS americanlemansseries Google+ highcroftracing lemans nissan sebring sebring12 on by (updated 4416 days ago)

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Detroit automakers missed out on a huge opportunity to demonstrate some true innovation innovation on the race track when they took a pass on supporting +Highcroft Racing and the Deltawing project. Two of the three Detroit companies have four cylinder engines with direct injection and turbocharging that would have made a perfect basis for propelling this radical new machine.

Into the breach stepped +Nissan with a modified version of the engine from the Juke compact crossover. Autoextremist Pete De Lorenzo has a great column this week that praises Nissan and rips into the domestics for this missed opportunity. http://www.autoextremist.com/fumes1/2012/3/13/fumes.html

Meanwhile Highcroft brought the Deltawing to Sebring yesterday to run some demonstration laps in between practice sessions for the 60th annual 12 Hours tomorrow.

#sebring #sebring12 #americanlemansseries #lemans #alms #highcroftracing #nissan

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This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans is going to be particularly interesting from…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged deltawing Google+ highcroft lemans nissan on by (updated 4421 days ago)

This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans is going to be particularly interesting from a technological standpoint.

We have Audi bringing the R18 e-tron Quattro with a turbodiesel V6 and a flywheel hybrid system, Toyota with a gas engine, battery electric hybrid and of course Highcroft Racing with the amazing DeltaWing.

Highcroft's prospects just got a huge boost with official factory backing for the project now coming from Nissan. Nissan will power the radical new race car with a turbocharged, direct injected gasoline inline four producing 300 hp. While that is maybe half the power of the other top LMP1 cars, the key to Deltawing's performance will be the fact that it has half the weight and half the aerodynamic drag of cars like the Audi and Toyota. Nissan and Highcroft will run some demonstration laps with the Deltawing at Sebring this Thursday.

#lemans #nissan #deltawing #highcroft

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NISSAN TO POWER DELTAWING

Nissan is aiming to change the face of endurance racing forever by becoming a founding partner …

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It looks like Toyota won't be the only automaker running a hybrid drive race…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged audi Google+ hybrid lemans on by (updated 4459 days ago)

It looks like Toyota won't be the only automaker running a hybrid drive race car at Le Mans this year. Audi has just announced that two of the four R18 TDIs will also feature a hybrid drive system.

Audi hasn't announced any technical details yet but there at least a couple of options open to the ten-time winners. They could go with either a battery system like that used in some of their newest production vehicles or get more radical.

At the Petit Le Mans a couple of years ago I asked Audi Motorsport boss Dr Wolfgang Ulrich if they would use the flywheel based system that has been proven so effective by corporate cousins Porsche in the 911 GT3R Hybrid. Dr Ulrich was non-committal but didn't rule out the flywheel system either. We should know more at the end of the month when Audi unveils the new car. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/hybrids/porsche-911-gt3r-hybrid-flywheel

#audi #lemans #hybrid

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Despite the loss of Peugeot, this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans is shaping up to…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged ALMS deltawing Google+ highcroft lemans michelin on by (updated 4466 days ago)

Despite the loss of Peugeot, this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans is shaping up to be a fascinating race. In addition to the new Toyota TS030 LMP1 with an ultra-capacitor hybrid drive system, Highcroft Racing is teaming up with Dan Gurney's All-American Racers and Michelin to run the new DeltaWing prototype. http://www.highcroftracing.com/

Michelin just delivered the first set of tires for this new dart-shaped race car and the fronts in particular pale next to the massive tires used by last year's winning Audi R18 TDI.

One of the coolest things about Le Mans is the willingness of the organizers to let teams try out new technology. For the past half dozen years, Audi and Peugeot have demonstrated the benefits of diesel power and the DeltaWing will run unclassified as a proof of concept for more efficient, downsized racers.

I can't wait for June!

#alms #lemans #deltawing #highcroft #michelin

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MICHELIN DELIVERS FIRST TIRES TO DELTAWING
Michelin today unveiled the first set of specially designed race tires for the 24 Hours of Le Mans-bound Project 56 DeltaWing team. One look at the unique sizes of the tires makes the radical nature o…

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It's a sad sign of continuing tough economic times that Peugeot is shuttering…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged ALMS enduranceracing Google+ lemans peugeot on by (updated 4472 days ago)

It's a sad sign of continuing tough economic times that Peugeot is shuttering its Le Mans race program.

Over the past five years, the ongoing battle between the diesel powered Peugeot 908s and Audi R10s, R15s and R18s has provided some of the best competition anywhere. Seeing these prototypes running flat-out for 10, 12 and 24 hours warms the heart of any race fan.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that we won't get to see the hybrid version of the 908 run in competition. Hopefully Peugeot will at least keep some of the engineering team together so that they are ready to comeback when things pick up.

#peugeot #lemans #alms #enduranceracing

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Peugeot brings down the curtain on its endurance programme so as to ensure the success of its numerous launches in 2012
After 14 victories in the last 16 races, including a double at the Le Mans 24 Hours 2009 as part of the ILMC championship won by Peugeot two years running, in 2010 and 2011, the Brand has decided to c…

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