- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
Eh. They look somewhat similar. I see your point, but even adding classes isn't a great idea...
But as far as performance goes, where will they all sit?
Highcroft's Deltawing *Update: granted ALMS 2013 full entry! *
- Thread starter Hun200kmh
- 482 comments
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Eh. They look somewhat similar. I see your point, but even adding classes isn't a great idea...
But as far as performance goes, where will they all sit?
- 3,575
- Phoenix, AZ
- GTP_Snaeper
It's a shame that the ACO is moving to a Coupe-only format for the Prototypes, as the roadster LMP's would've helped further distinguish them when next to a DP.
For 2014 things could be cut and dry, or quite difficult. We have four classes that could all adapt easily, and then two potential wildcards.
The four that should be a no-brainer:
-LMP2
-DP (Modified)
-GTE
-GT (Who knows what kind of cars will be here.)
The Wildcards are both supposedly going to appear in 2013, which could make things very difficult depending on how successful they are.
-DeltaWing
-GX Class
Both could show up in very small numbers for 2013, be merged in 2014 and either die, or grow, but we'll see.
To keep things on topic though, I really think the DW should become it's own class, and possibly take on elements that the Daytona Prototype currently employs, like no works entires, yet all entries using certain engines are supported by the manufacturers.
In all honesty though, I think the DeltaWing and the GX class could make a great fit in their own sub-series, spending some weekends alongside the new series, and other weekends on the tracks that lose out on the merger, giving them a premier event. Call it the most green-innovative racing series on Earth.
For 2014 things could be cut and dry, or quite difficult. We have four classes that could all adapt easily, and then two potential wildcards.
The four that should be a no-brainer:
-LMP2
-DP (Modified)
-GTE
-GT (Who knows what kind of cars will be here.)
The Wildcards are both supposedly going to appear in 2013, which could make things very difficult depending on how successful they are.
-DeltaWing
-GX Class
Both could show up in very small numbers for 2013, be merged in 2014 and either die, or grow, but we'll see.
To keep things on topic though, I really think the DW should become it's own class, and possibly take on elements that the Daytona Prototype currently employs, like no works entires, yet all entries using certain engines are supported by the manufacturers.
In all honesty though, I think the DeltaWing and the GX class could make a great fit in their own sub-series, spending some weekends alongside the new series, and other weekends on the tracks that lose out on the merger, giving them a premier event. Call it the most green-innovative racing series on Earth.
- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
^I support this. Run the GX/DW thing in conjunction with that Formula Electric thing.
- 23,800
- Philippines
The Deltawing class could prove a draw for more manufacturers to supply engines. I'd imagine a turbo four would be more applicable to most manufacturers' line-ups than a screaming prototype V8 or a V10 diesel.
And the modest power output means that they could be cheaper, both in terms of development and running.
And the modest power output means that they could be cheaper, both in terms of development and running.
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
This is not entirely "on topic", but regarding the DW's driver lineup for Petit Le Mans I can't help but to smile at the fact that:
- Lucas Ordoñez in Poliphony Digital's golden boy. No source needed in gtplanet.
- Gunnar Jeannette is Turn10's golden boy. source
Probably just a coincidence, but an interesting one.
And it begs the question (now completely OT) Which of these games - GT and FM - will feature the DeltaWing first? (/now completely OT)
- Lucas Ordoñez in Poliphony Digital's golden boy. No source needed in gtplanet.
- Gunnar Jeannette is Turn10's golden boy. source
Probably just a coincidence, but an interesting one.
And it begs the question (now completely OT) Which of these games - GT and FM - will feature the DeltaWing first? (/now completely OT)
- 84,351
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
I wouldn't be so quick to judge.
Firstly, yes, I imagine Nissan might have a bit of lean. Secondly, MS may have the funding for this but I seriously doubt they'd go for it for one car. FM just isn't that much of a money-spinner for them - only one in every nine consoles has a copy of any one of the games, on average, though it could be as little as one in twenty X360 owners being FM players. The gross profit on FM is of the order of $25m, over the seven years the series has been going - around $3.5m a year. The odds of MS wanting to throw a third of the annual profit from FM on one car, unless it significantly enhances sales from the existing 5-10% range of all console owners, is slim.
But they do have an ALMS deal (Don Panoz again) and DeltaWing will be racing in Grand-ALMS in 2013, allegedly...
Firstly, yes, I imagine Nissan might have a bit of lean. Secondly, MS may have the funding for this but I seriously doubt they'd go for it for one car. FM just isn't that much of a money-spinner for them - only one in every nine consoles has a copy of any one of the games, on average, though it could be as little as one in twenty X360 owners being FM players. The gross profit on FM is of the order of $25m, over the seven years the series has been going - around $3.5m a year. The odds of MS wanting to throw a third of the annual profit from FM on one car, unless it significantly enhances sales from the existing 5-10% range of all console owners, is slim.
But they do have an ALMS deal (Don Panoz again) and DeltaWing will be racing in Grand-ALMS in 2013, allegedly...
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
Ok, I had no idea about how profitable FM is, that indeed is relevant in a decision-making process, thanks for sharing what you know (btw, according to what you know DP asks $1M including exclusive rights or is it $1M and he can still sell to others?)
More on-topic, here a nice interview from Jeannette. Apparently they will test the track before the race but if the aero configuration can't be changed then I suspect the DW will have a really hard time at Road Atlanta
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-qa-with-gunnar-jeannette/
More on-topic, here a nice interview from Jeannette. Apparently they will test the track before the race but if the aero configuration can't be changed then I suspect the DW will have a really hard time at Road Atlanta
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-qa-with-gunnar-jeannette/
- 9,053
- Murica
- BasedAckbar
You knowing the prices of the pictures of Princess Kate's womanly bits is a bit interesting Niky.
- 3,575
- Phoenix, AZ
- GTP_Snaeper
Precisely. With all the manufacturers that use, or are beginning to use, small displacement turbo 4's in their cars in the US, I can't see any reason why they wouldn't jump at the chance for their engines to compete in a platform designed to make them shine.
And I think Panoz needs to realize he has to lighten up his grip on the licensing issue. The Video game platform would be a great opportunity to build interest from the fans about the car. When the fans realize they like it, they'll (hopefully) start screaming for it. Then, suddenly, manufacturers and teams take notice and start hopping into the car.
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
Gunnar Jeannette on his first "DeltaWing" experience:
http://soundcloud.com/highcroft-racing/gunnar-jeannette-first
Lucas Ordoñez on his Road Atlanta Test Day
http://soundcloud.com/highcroft-racing/lucas-ordonez-road-atlanta
http://soundcloud.com/highcroft-racing/gunnar-jeannette-first
Lucas Ordoñez on his Road Atlanta Test Day
http://soundcloud.com/highcroft-racing/lucas-ordonez-road-atlanta
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
Highcroft released a few pics from their tests at Road Atlanta. You can see them here:
http://www.deltawingracing.com/images/nissan-deltawing-road-atlanta-testing-2/
My favourite:
http://www.deltawingracing.com/picture/2012-09-23 at 17-32-23.jpg?pictureId=16375371
And Ben Bowlby's audio commentary on those testing sessions. Past the usual PR and self-praise he really sounds happier than I would have thought (I don't think the DW is suited to race at Road Atlanta). Maybe it's just the fact that the car was allowed to race once more:
http://soundcloud.com/highcroft-racing/ben-bowlby-road-atlanta-test
http://www.deltawingracing.com/images/nissan-deltawing-road-atlanta-testing-2/
My favourite:
http://www.deltawingracing.com/picture/2012-09-23 at 17-32-23.jpg?pictureId=16375371
And Ben Bowlby's audio commentary on those testing sessions. Past the usual PR and self-praise he really sounds happier than I would have thought (I don't think the DW is suited to race at Road Atlanta). Maybe it's just the fact that the car was allowed to race once more:
http://soundcloud.com/highcroft-racing/ben-bowlby-road-atlanta-test
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- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
The Delta Wing doing one lap at Road Atlanta, by Lucas Ordoñez
I'm impressed. And it must be odd for a racing driver to hit the apexes with the rear tyres, not to point the front to them. But after a few laps it should become natural/routine driving procedure ... I guess
This is what I mean. Apparently Lucas just "knows" (already) how to do it right.
I'm impressed. And it must be odd for a racing driver to hit the apexes with the rear tyres, not to point the front to them. But after a few laps it should become natural/routine driving procedure ... I guess
This is what I mean. Apparently Lucas just "knows" (already) how to do it right.
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- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
Nice interview with Lucas, both about the GT Academy and what it made of him, and about the Deltawing @ PLM. Some nice words to Darren Cox (Nissan Europe) I'd say quite deserved.
http://www.deltawingracing.com/news/2012/10/2/spanish-ace-ready-for-nissan-deltawing-debut.html
http://www.deltawingracing.com/news/2012/10/2/spanish-ace-ready-for-nissan-deltawing-debut.html
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
And now it's Gunnar Jeannette speaking. Great writeup of what must have been a fantastic "first day at the office".
IN THE COCKPIT: Gunnar Jeannette, driving the DeltaWing
My favorite part, it relates to many of us:
IN THE COCKPIT: Gunnar Jeannette, driving the DeltaWing
My favorite part, it relates to many of us:
Gunnar Jeannette
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
The DeltaWing (or DeltaWings? ) will enter as full competitor(s) the ALMS 2013 championship!!!
And its entry at Petit Le Mans will be used to collect the data needed to sort out its regulations, so the car gets balanced with the competition (I'll suppose they'll try to "balance" it with the LMP2 class, but that's just me speculating)
Being a fan of this car and concept (especially because of it being "wingless", I'm with Jochen Rindt on the hate towards wings since ... ever) I can say these news made me VERY HAPPY !!!! 👍
And its entry at Petit Le Mans will be used to collect the data needed to sort out its regulations, so the car gets balanced with the competition (I'll suppose they'll try to "balance" it with the LMP2 class, but that's just me speculating)
Being a fan of this car and concept (especially because of it being "wingless", I'm with Jochen Rindt on the hate towards wings since ... ever) I can say these news made me VERY HAPPY !!!!
👍
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
Who is this guy???
Highcroft's twitter refers to him as "ABC/ESPN's Johnny O'Connel" so I thought a journalist. But now I see he is doing laps at Road Atlanta with the rest of the field and did a respectable - 1:16.383 - lap time.
EDIT - Ok I checked ... veteran factory Corvette driver, somehow I never noticed his name in the several Le Mans entries he was in
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- 44,184
- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
Who is this guy???
Highcroft's twitter refers to him as "ABC/ESPN's Johnny O'Connel" so I thought a journalist. But now I see he is doing laps at Road Atlanta with the rest of the field and did a respectable - 1:16.383 - lap time.
EDIT - Ok I checked ... veteran factory Corvette driver, somehow I never noticed his name in the several Le Mans entries he was in
No one should forget who he is!
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
Ok, I don't know who was the driver that did it, but the DeltaWIng today has shown that it doesn't fear a twisty up'ndown track like Road Atlanta.
- 5th overall with a 1:13.462
- 3,31 secs behind leader (LMP1 car)
- 0,44 secs behind LMP2 class leader
- better than all other LMP2 cars.
I am delighted by this achievement.
EDIT - What Johnny O'Connell had to say about his experience
http://soundcloud.com/highcroft-racing/abc-espns-johnny-oconnell
- 5th overall with a 1:13.462
- 3,31 secs behind leader (LMP1 car)
- 0,44 secs behind LMP2 class leader
- better than all other LMP2 cars.
I am delighted by this achievement.
EDIT - What Johnny O'Connell had to say about his experience
http://soundcloud.com/highcroft-racing/abc-espns-johnny-oconnell
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- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
I think I won't spoil the "Le Mans General Thread" with something so specific to the Highcroft / Nissan DeltaWing team, so I'll just put it here. It's the entire list of tweets (newest at the top) they wrote ever since the accident up to now. With the links to the several pictures they took of their "work in progress".
A full night awake to rebuild the car, they decided to rest the team and sit out the morning session, they'll return in the next one. Amazing effort nonetheless.
And John Dagys from Speed just published this:
DeltaWing rebuild looking good so far
http://twitpic.com/b581py/full
A full night awake to rebuild the car, they decided to rest the team and sit out the morning session, they'll return in the next one. Amazing effort nonetheless.
Nissan DeltaWing Twitter feed
And John Dagys from Speed just published this:
DeltaWing rebuild looking good so far
http://twitpic.com/b581py/full
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- 1,616
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- GTP_ealirendur
bzking23
P5 in the end, apparently one of the P2s exceeded the maximum driver time : http://www.deltawingracing.com/news/2012/10/21/mission-accomplished-petit-le-mans-top-five.html
Awesome stuff!
Perhaps the driver meetings had a "Yes, the little black thing is small. But It's probably faster than you." item on the agenda.
- 9,053
- Murica
- BasedAckbar
This turbo 4 engine in that Delta Wing, is there any talk of Nissan using them for LMP1 or LMP2 for the 2014 regs?
Besides the project briefing for half the power half the consumption, I figure Nissan is also using this to develop the engine.
Besides the project briefing for half the power half the consumption, I figure Nissan is also using this to develop the engine.
- 7,113
- Lisboa
- FLAT_TWELVE
I know there are no "WHAT IF's" in motorsport but ...
IF
...
The powers that be at Road Atlanta didn't:
a) put the Deltawing at the back of the entire field for race start;
b) forbid the DeltaWing to unlap itself under yellows;
I guess the DW would have finished P2 (unclassified after, but the distance would be there) , just after the winning Rebellion and in front of the entire LMP2 field.
This tweet was written by Jeannette during the race and while Lucas was at the wheel:
And there's a low intensity war of words still going. Quite funny actually (The Lewis Hamilton reference is hilarious) but I do feel Jeannette is genuinely pissed at some naysayers.
Here an excerpt
Love this last one
IF
...The powers that be at Road Atlanta didn't:
a) put the Deltawing at the back of the entire field for race start;
b) forbid the DeltaWing to unlap itself under yellows;
I guess the DW would have finished P2 (unclassified after, but the distance would be there) , just after the winning Rebellion and in front of the entire LMP2 field.
This tweet was written by Jeannette during the race and while Lucas was at the wheel:
And there's a low intensity war of words still going. Quite funny actually (The Lewis Hamilton reference is hilarious) but I do feel Jeannette is genuinely pissed at some naysayers.
Here an excerpt
Love this last one
