 |
| Click for official site to read and see all about it. |
My rant is simple today. Why can't the DeltaWing officially race?
Racing was supposed to be the test bed for new solutions. That is the main "excuse" everyone keeps using. For racing and for wasting more and more money every year in racing development, new composite materials, incredible aerodynamics (that mostly ruined many racing series in the last years, but that'd be another rant) and so on. But it really isn't, is it? Racing is all winning at all costs. It's about publicity, notoriety from racing results. And when participating is not providing as much return, manufacturers retire. Even when winning and dominating a series for years.
Let the DeltaWing race. For real. Not as a favor.
Some fun facts that make it awesome (most are in the video)
My first car was lightweight at 700kg. My current one (MPV) is 1800kg and it's not "that" heavy.
This is really lightweight at 475 kg (1,047 pounds)
Engine is a Nissan DIG-T 1.6 L with around 320hp. Considering the light weight... it's a lot.
Front wheels are the same size as a Citroën 2CV orr a space saver spare wheel. It still turns. Actually there is basically no under-steer. The reduced drag from the smaller tyres needed helps in acceleration and top speed.
Front suspension "practically a mountain bike", no power steering, none needed.
Rear, brilliant suspension, and no wing. The car itself is the wing. Actually, the aerodynamic is so brilliant it can pull high G forces when turning, but still attain incredible top speeds, faster that most (if not all) LMP type cars, and brake hard, mainly in the rear wheels without a problem.
All that, with incredible fuel mileage and low tyre wear.
But who would want that... a faster, more effective, efficient race car, that would lead to better road cars?
PS: (long) it's not a trike, it has 4 wheels. It rolls, yes. But just like a 4 wheel car can.
Even a heavy V8 Supercar can roll when tagged in the rear:
Or hits another car the right way (ffw to 18m31s):
