richard_leeds wrote:The idea is that this is a very lightweight car, plus most the weight is at the back, hence the front wheels can be more like a road car width.
In terms of mecahnics, there is a lot more room in there than the nose of an F1 car.
Weight distribution seems to be the most interesting aspect.
• Transmission is a 5 speed plus reverse longitudinal design with electrical sequential paddle shift actuation. The differential features an efficient variable torque steer/differential speed-controlled planetary final drive reduction layout with the entire transmission weighing only 33kg.
• Vehicle weight distribution is necessarily more rearward than traditionally seen with 72.5% of the mass between the wide track larger rear tires.
• 76% of the aerodynamic downforce acts on the rear of the car which has a lift to drag ratio of >5.0.
• Rear wheel drive coupled with the rearward weight and aerodynamic distributions greatly enhances inline acceleration capability.
• Unique amongst today’s racing cars, more than 50% of the vehicle’s braking force is generated behind the center of gravity giving a dynamically stable response.
• Locking propensity of the un-laden front wheel at corner entry is greatly reduced due to virtually no lateral load transfer with the narrow front track/wide rear track layout, steered wheel “scrub drag” moment is virtually zero greatly increasing tire utilization and reducing mid turn understeer.
The unregulated active rear diff might be a big advantage for them. I didn't see mention of minimum weight spec for this entrant, that could also be an edge for tire wear. Roll still concerns me, but if all the weight is at the rear, and at a much lower height than say a Reliant Robin, then perhaps its not a big issue.
gridwalker wrote:Personally, I hope they dominate.
Everyone had their doubts about the funny little rear engined cars that John Cooper entered into F1 alongside the traditional front engined cars, but look where that ended up ... people are always reluctant to adapt to a new form factor or engineering methodology (Carbon Fibre chassis were originally written off as fragile and dangerous) but sometimes these oddball technologies become an epoch-changing development.
I wish them all the best at Le Mans, but I doubt they'll live up to my hopes.
Agree, I wish them the best as well. I continue hoping for a racing series where this sort of exploration is encouraged.
I'd like to see the same concept implemented as a reverse-trike FWD with a forward weight distribution. Could be interesting, like that old 6-wheel 70's wing car sportscar concept that I can't remember the name of at the moment.
