Nissan's LeMans racer

[dawp]

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/03/nissan-deltawing/

thought this was interesting, definitely a distinctive look.

 

[Zargon]

holy batmobile

 

[Drako]

For some reason, I was expecting this

From a 2011 "24 Hours of LeMons"

 

[senseamp]

 

[MaxFusion16]

 

[LordMorpheus]

The chassis was original designed to become the standard chassis for INDY cars, but Lola won the contract with a more traditional design (no surprise).

I guess Nissan liked it enough that they funded continued development. It looks pretty cool, but I'm not sure about it being competitive. I guess we'll see.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Almost as ugly as this season's F1 cars...

 

[Apex]

Wow, totally bizarre.

 

[LTC8K6]

It looks cool if it's a land speed record car.

Otherwise, barf.

 

[ElFenix]

http://jalopnik.com/5468819/delta-wing-racer-an-indycar-batmobile-rocket-ship

 

[manimal]

batman just said

"b&tch stole my look"

 

[Throckmorton]

Did they get those headlights from a Mazda?

 

[Howard]

http://jalopnik.com/5468819/delta-wing-racer-an-indycar-batmobile-rocket-ship

Great comments.

 

[Howard]

If they have less weight at the front, less downforce at the front, less rubber at the front, and less track at the front, how is this thing supposed to corner?

 

[ElFenix]

If they have less weight at the front, less downforce at the front, less rubber at the front, and less track at the front, how is this thing supposed to corner?

the cg is near the rear wheels so very little effort is needed to turn the thing. or so i heard.

 

[Howard]

the cg is near the rear wheels so very little effort is needed to turn the thing. or so i heard.

Sounds like a recipe for massive lift-off oversteer.

 

[Imported]

If they have less weight at the front, less downforce at the front, less rubber at the front, and less track at the front, how is this thing supposed to corner?

Apparently it handled Sebring's hairpin quite well..

 

[CraigRT]

For some reason, I was expecting this

From a 2011 "24 Hours of LeMons"

I love it.
Pure classic awesomeness. That thing in the first post is teh ghey.

 

[hotlavaaaa]

If they have less weight at the front, less downforce at the front, less rubber at the front, and less track at the front, how is this thing supposed to corner?

http://youtu.be/3wlQAvEfmeI

As for it being competitive, the Deltawing is running as the 56th entry at Le Mans which is intended for experimental cars, so it will be unclassified. The aim is for the car to be somewhere between LMP2 and LMP1 in lap speed.

 

[JCH13]

If they have less weight at the front, less downforce at the front, less rubber at the front, and less track at the front, how is this thing supposed to corner?

Exactly as you described. Less weight means that less down-force, track and less rubber are needed in the front to generate an appropriate amount of grip.

I think it's awesome just because it's such a radical departure from normal LeMans cars. I hope that it is as effective as it is crazy.