The Highcroft team has been invited by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) to run the 2012 Le Mans race as an additional 56th entry. The 56th entry is usually used for a technologically innovative car to participate in the 24 hours of Le Mans to showcase unique or new technology. Some of the biggest names in motorsports have come together to show the deltawing concept, using both half the weight and horsepower as a traditional prototype car. The project 56 group brings together Deltawing Designer Ben Bowlby. Duncan Dayton of Highcroft Racing. 1967 Le Mans Winner Dan Gurney. As well as American Le Mans Series founder Dr. Don Panoz, who will act as a key advisor.
Racing cars have typically strived for increase in performance, via better and bigger engines, as well as better aerodynamics. The DeltaWing concentrates on exploiting other efficiency gains outside of todays regulations. The new car will have half the horsepower, of the LM P1 cars, as well as roughly half the weight at around 1000 pounds. The project 56 group is in discussion with engine partners and are targeting a 1.6 liter turbocharged engine producing approximately 300 horsepower.
The car is like no other previously run at Le Mans, with its slender nose and narrow front track, minimizing the horsepower required to pusth the car to 200 MPH. Eliminating the traditional rear wing, downforce ont he DeltaWing is generated solely beneath the car by the contoured underbody.
The DeltaWing selection was revealed today at the ACO’s annual press conference coinciding with this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Construction of the new DeltaWing will begin next month at Dan Gurney’s All American Racers facility in California, and the Highcroft team will begin testing the car later this year. Highcroft Racing ran the 24 Hours of Le Mans first in 2010 while Dan Gurney won the race in 1967 in a Ford GT40 with AJ Foyt as his co-driver. Famously spraying champagne on the podium for the first time in history, which launched a now world-renowned tradition.
Post a reply