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Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:55 am
by 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;

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:58 am
by Mike Shin
Check it out, more in car footage from Buttonwillow. :o

http://youtu.be/3wlQAvEfmeI

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:05 pm
by 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?

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:30 pm
by 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?:

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:34 pm
by Jeff Stuart
Kurt Rahn wrote: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.

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:35 pm
by Jeff Stuart
Robert Puertas wrote: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.

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:15 pm
by Rick Brown
Kurt Rahn wrote: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.

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:20 pm
by Marshall Grice
Jeff Stuart wrote:
Kurt Rahn wrote: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.

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:07 pm
by Jeff Stuart
Marshall Grice wrote:
Jeff Stuart wrote:
Kurt Rahn wrote: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.

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:27 pm
by Kurt Rahn
Jeff Stuart wrote:
Marshall Grice wrote: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 :lol:

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:17 pm
by Arthur Grant
Isn't this the car Dan Gurney's team is working on?

Re: Nissan "DeltaWing" To Run Le Mans

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:36 pm
by Rick Brown
Arthur Grant wrote: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;