Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

[Jeff Stuart]

Nissan announced today that it will be running an experimental "DeltaWing" car at the 24 hours of Le Mans this year:

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/13/niss ... s-w-video/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mike Shin]

Check it out, more in car footage from Buttonwillow.

http://youtu.be/3wlQAvEfmeI

[Kurt Rahn]

I'm certainly no engineer, but it seems like a car with such a narrow track in front would be prone to rolling over on turn in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe the long wheelbase mitigates this somewhat?

[Robert Puertas]

So in all the publicity shots, the driver is on the left side of the chassis.
But in the Buttonwillow video the driver is on the right...
:wuzzzatt?:

[Jeff Stuart]

I'm certainly no engineer, but it seems like a car with such a narrow track in front would be prone to rolling over on turn in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe the long wheelbase mitigates this somewhat?

It's probably more prone to rollover than the average LMP car, but that's not saying much. Considering the downforce and low CG, it's probably not the big of a worry.

I'm trying to figure out how it won't have horrible under-steer with it being so narrow and having those skinny (4" wide!) front tires.

[Jeff Stuart]

So in all the publicity shots, the driver is on the left side of the chassis.
But in the Buttonwillow video the driver is on the right...
:wuzzzatt?:

I noticed that too, very odd.

[Rick Brown]

I'm certainly no engineer, but it seems like a car with such a narrow track in front would be prone to rolling over on turn in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe the long wheelbase mitigates this somewhat?

Hilarious. Been working my way through the Top Gear series from the beginning on Netflix streaming and haven't gotten to that one yet.

[Marshall Grice]

I'm certainly no engineer, but it seems like a car with such a narrow track in front would be prone to rolling over on turn in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe the long wheelbase mitigates this somewhat?

It's probably more prone to rollover than the average LMP car, but that's not saying much. Considering the downforce and low CG, it's probably not the big of a worry.

I'm trying to figure out how it won't have horrible under-steer with it being so narrow and having those skinny (4" wide!) front tires.

well considering it's basically a 3 wheeler, the US/OS balance will be set primarily by the f/r cg location. So my guess is it's crazy rear heavy.

[Jeff Stuart]

I'm certainly no engineer, but it seems like a car with such a narrow track in front would be prone to rolling over on turn in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe the long wheelbase mitigates this somewhat?

It's probably more prone to rollover than the average LMP car, but that's not saying much. Considering the downforce and low CG, it's probably not the big of a worry.

I'm trying to figure out how it won't have horrible under-steer with it being so narrow and having those skinny (4" wide!) front tires.

well considering it's basically a 3 wheeler, the US/OS balance will be set primarily by the f/r cg location. So my guess is it's crazy rear heavy.

Oh yeah, I didn't consider that the weight distribution would be so different compared to a normal car. Good point.

[Kurt Rahn]

well considering it's basically a 3 wheeler, the US/OS balance will be set primarily by the f/r cg location. So my guess is it's crazy rear heavy.

Oh yeah, I didn't consider that the weight distribution would be so different compared to a normal car. Good point.

Maybe it'll need wheelie bars

[Arthur Grant]

Isn't this the car Dan Gurney's team is working on?

[Rick Brown]

Isn't this the car Dan Gurney's team is working on?

Yep, the logo on the steering wheel is AAR, All American Racers, Gurney's company.
http://www.allamericanracers.com/home.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;