Acura/HPD's future plans

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by peter_elleray

no , not saying this is the wrong path - it all makes some sense but only if the tyre supplier will cater for the requirements of the car, instead of the other way around... but in general, more front aero requires more front weight, not the otherway around as you speculate. i dont really follow your ideas about the airflow tbh...

a works team, so the tyre situation should be a lot more focused and favourable than for a privateer who has to use the standard issue rubber.

btw wf01 also had a 'zero keel' monocque with machined brackets acting as stub keels in the outer front corners of the monocque, and relatively high lower wishbones..

peter

According to Wirth, the fronts are exactly the same as the rears, compound and all...for now. I wonder how soon that will change?

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by MulsanneMike

According to Wirth, the fronts are exactly the same as the rears, compound and all...for now. I wonder how soon that will change?

That was something I was curious about. I've gotta think Michelin will come up with some new compounds for the front. I'm no expert, but I'd imagine the attributes of front and rear tires re quite a bit different being that one set does the driving and the other does the turning, so maybe having a set of front tires that cater to the attributes of what a front tire should do will help them out dramatically.

But to see Acura already in the 1:44s means they've definitely done their homework up to this point!

[joeb]

Would using the larger tires on the front lead to less wear or longer stints for the tires? If it did, that would be helpful if the single air gun rule was in alms, it's not, but just a thought.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

But to see Acura already in the 1:44s means they've definitely done their homework up to this point!

What was last years pole time and race pace please ?

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by joeb

Would using the larger tires on the front lead to less wear or longer stints for the tires? If it did, that would be helpful if the single air gun rule was in alms, it's not, but just a thought.

Yes ..... that was mentioned quite a few posts back ..... that seems to be the reasoning behind it .

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by The Badger

What was last years pole time and race pace please ?

A 1:42 I believe. They've tested at Sebring several times now with the new car, but only once in full 09 spec AFAIK, so to be just 2 seconds off this quickly is pretty impressive.

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by The Badger

What was last years pole time and race pace please ?

Pole was a 1:43.195 though the quickest lap was a 1:43.117. Fastest race lap was a 1:44.536.

[fanfisique]

Originally Posted by MulsanneMike

Pole was a 1:43.195 though the quickest lap was a 1:43.117. Fastest race lap was a 1:44.536.

But the real measure is Stéphane Sarrazin´s Sebring lap record of 1m 42.801s during practice...

[juicy sushi]

i have to wonder, if michelin are unable to deliver the custom compounds acura may ultimately require, would this lead them to seek a new partner? perhaps the occasionally rumoured entry of bridgestone?...

[The Badger]

Why would Michelin be unable to rise to the challange , they did for Audi when they required a differant tyre dimension by a few thou . I suspect it is well within their capabilities .

[Félix]

Don't know whether it was mentioned or not, but looking back at the first test pics on MulsannesCorner, the wing was just not there. It's was probably a 2008 gearbox or even an hybrid ARX-01/ARX-02 rear-end.

And the V8 is probably bad for fuel consumption since it's revving quite high (maybe 10000 for max power) hence more friction and more consumption; unless they make it DFI.

[Japanese Samurai]

V8 Engine recalls me to Mugen MF408S and MF458S which did not succeed.
Mugen said that the reason why this engine did not succeed in was because this category did not have a custom to purchase an engine.
Judd is called one coin business.
They sell an engine very very cheaply and make money for maintenance expense.
Mugen did not know this.

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by Félix

Don't know whether it was mentioned or not, but looking back at the first test pics on MulsannesCorner, the wing was just not there. It's was probably a 2008 gearbox or even an hybrid ARX-01/ARX-02 rear-end.

The P1 car is 99% different from the P2 car. Only the headlights and wheel nuts are carried over. Looking at the car, there is no way a P2 gearbox would work in the P1 car.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Félix

Don't know whether it was mentioned or not, but looking back at the first test pics on MulsannesCorner, the wing was just not there. It's was probably a 2008 gearbox or even an hybrid ARX-01/ARX-02 rear-end.

And the V8 is probably bad for fuel consumption since it's revving quite high (maybe 10000 for max power) hence more friction and more consumption; unless they make it DFI.

I think the wing difference was attributable to running a 2008-spec LMP wing, which likely was lifted directly from the P2 car and modified as little as possible to fit on the P1. They knew at that stage that they had to redesign their wing, which they were likely still in the process of since the ACO did not tell them about the rules change until after the CAD process was complete.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by cmk

I think the wing difference was attributable to running a 2008-spec LMP wing, which likely was lifted directly from the P2 car and modified as little as possible to fit on the P1. They knew at that stage that they had to redesign their wing, which they were likely still in the process of since the ACO did not tell them about the rules change until after the CAD process was complete.

Thats pretty much what Nick Wirth said, but that they knew since Le Mans that something was going to be done with the wing.
http://www.radiolemans.com/ ALMS page mp3/Itunes



L.P.

[XJR14/WSC95]

If the Patron Highcroft Team are considering going to Le Mans this year you can be sure that de Ferran Motorsports are also considering it. And if so they must have already applied for entry as they have now closed. You can be sure that the ACO will give them an invitation, if they don't withdraw there entries before that time. One would imagine that the decision will be made after the 12 Hrs of Sebring and be dependent on there performance and reliability against the R15 and the 908.

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by XJR14/WSC95

If the Patron Highcroft Team are considering going to Le Mans this year you can be sure that de Ferran Motorsports are also considering it. And if so they must have already applied for entry as they have now closed. You can be sure that the ACO will give them an invitation, if they don't withdraw there entries before that time. One would imagine that the decision will be made after the 12 Hrs of Sebring and be dependent on there performance and reliability against the R15 and the 908.

Acura is NOT going to Le Mans this year. End of discussion.

[The Badger]

But Fernandez might as a privateer . Whats the odds on that ?

Its his car ..... he has a sponsor willing that also sponsored him before over here , and he personally has the will to do it again .

I would love to see that car !!!

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by The Badger

But Fernandez might as a privateer . Whats the odds on that ?

Its his car ..... he has a sponsor willing that also sponsored him before over here , and he personally has the will to do it again .

I would love to see that car !!!

Realizing that the car isn't currently at 2009 ACO spec......

[The Badger]

Realising that it could be converted to 2009 ACO spec.....

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Realising that it could be converted to 2009 ACO spec.....

Of course it could. But then, it would require redesign, wind tunnel time, testing.... I suspect by the time that is done, you are probably looking at a bill approaching two million, including running the race. I'm not sure that is attractive, for a car that is essentially going to be obsoleted. Who is going to pay? Fernandez out of pocket? Do Lowes need to market themselves in France?

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Of course it could. But then, it would require redesign, wind tunnel time, testing.... I suspect by the time that is done, you are probably looking at a bill approaching two million, including running the race. I'm not sure that is attractive, for a car that is essentially going to be obsoleted. Who is going to pay? Fernandez out of pocket? Do Lowes need to market themselves in France?

So you think that the ARX-02a's wing could not be utilized and that package could not be CFD optimized, which seems to be Wirth's m.o., for less than 2 million??

And why is the car "going to be obsoleted"? Is the homologation not good for 7 years? Unless some major change comes along in P-2 it is at the sharp end of things. If the aero was done then it would/could still be competitive for some time as a P-2.


L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

So you think that the ARX-02a's wing could not be utilized and that package could not be CFD optimized, which seems to be Wirth's m.o., for less than 2 million??


L.P.

LM itself is going to cost between 1-1.2 million to run.

That leaves approx $800,000 to do the redesign, testing (rent a facility...etc) and build, plus spares....

Let's imagine I am out by a factor of 50%, and LM plus the rework is ONLY $1.6 million.... does that substantially change things?

Still, who pays, and why?

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Still, who pays, and why?

??? Lowe's.
ALMS P-2 championship/Le Mans P-2 winner and the continued sharp end of P-2. Unless Fernandez expects to be let in on the P-1 brigade next year. If not thats a pretty short relationship to have with a customer/partner.




L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

And why is the car "going to be obsoleted"? Is the homologation not good for 7 years? Unless some major change comes along in P-2 it is at the sharp end of things. If the aero was done then it would/could still be competitive for some time as a P-2.


L.P.

1. Acura's focus will be on the P1, their P2 program is not a focus, and therefore obsolete.

2. P rules changed enough this year, that effectively all cars designed specifically for the old P rules are obsolete, as soon as cars are built to optimize the new rules. Old rules cars might stay close, but close for a factory backed effort is not acceptable.

3. P2 rules will change substantially for 2011, making this car ineligible to pure ACO rules for P2. Perhaps some modifications could be done, but again, optimization out the window.