Spa Francorchamps race weekend was as usual a good proving ground to test low downforce aero package to be adopted at Le Mans. We take opportunity to review here Rebellion R13, primary actor competing on LMP1 privateer title. Interesting to see how they will perform at Le Mans, competing with Toyota hybrid TS050. It is known that Rebellion R13 is built around Oreca 07 chassis, and Gibson GL458 engine. At first look the car from outside has same philosophy as the Oreca 07, but there are several changes from front to back creating different airflow management on external aerodynamics as well as cooling. Rebellion R13 rear fender is more conventionally designed with very slender ...

Porsche, despite his withdrawal from WEC, has developed his 919 Hybrid focusing on maximising his performance in unique experiment to challenge laptime record at Spa. This gave motorsport community the great opportunity to compare LMP1 and F1 performance. Last occasion during 2017 Prologue in Monza has proven F1 to be faster, (1’30’’547 marked by Lapierre on Toyota TS050 vs. 1’21’’135 Hamilton pole position on Mercedes W07). But it is essential to remark that regulations changes during winter 2016 made F1 3-3,5 second faster and LMP1 nearly 4,5 second (at Le Mans) slower than previous racing season. Porsche 919 Evo driven by Neel Jani marked an impressive ...

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WEC Superseason 2018/2019 is about to get started at Spa Francorchamps during first weekend of May. 30 hours collective testing at Paul Ricard, high tech racing circuit, has clearly outlined Toyota TS50 as very competitive package that with the addition of great reliability shown is to be considered as the fastest car. 1’32”662 best laptime with top speed at 347,3 km/h on Mistral straight are very impressive numbers. The program has been completed with a total of 1002 lap, most of them in low downforce configuration, focusing on the needs for Spa and Le Mans. Different area of the car has been developed increasing the high level of detailed design of aerodynamic configuration. Side ...

January 2017 DPi prototypes made debut at Rolex 24 Hours Daytona, opening event of IMSA Weather Tech Sport Car Championship. Given recent withdrawal from WEC by Porsche and effect that this will have on Toyota programs, it seems interesting to see DPi as a possible addition to top level prototype class. DPi Cars are, by IMSA regulation, derivation from ACO/FIA homologated 2017 LMP2 chassis produced by one of the four approved constructors (Oreca, Onroak Automotive, Dallara, Riley /Multimatic ). In order to ensure Manufactures a clear brand recognition and evidence of their own style, IMSA introduced design freedom area on nose, sidepod, rear wheel arc and rear valance. In addition Manufactures ...

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6 hours race at Nurburgring has provided a great opportunity to see again prototypes with Aero kit designed to maximize downforce, a huge turnaround from maximum efficiency target necessary on legendary Le Mans 24 Heures. The race has been considered a key point of the WEC season that is looking forward to eventually reshape itself after withdrawal of Porsche almost certain, following Audi. Porsche has shown a clear supremacy in term of performance and pace consistency heading to a win with very weak battle form Toyota. High downforce kit used by Porsche shows some interesting details and concept especially on front part of the car. Front  fender leading edge is less extended ...

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Just few hours left to the start of 85^th edition of the legendary Le Mans 24 Heures. It is obviously a milestone on the motorsport season, this time with 60 cars, 179 drivers. Prototypes classes count 6 cars on LMP1 and 25 cars, of 4 manufacturers, on LMP2. Characteristics of circuit the la Sarthe are unique, therefore cars configuration adopted here are very specific and not used on the remaining part of WEC events.  Laptime is related to total drag of the car, being power from engines and grip from tyres, identical for all cars of same class. Top speed on long straights is essential to get the performance out of the entire lap, nevertheless a reasonable level of ...

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ELMS 2017 second event at Monza circuit has offered the opportunity to see LMP2 and LMP3 racing on the high speed circuit, low drag configuration, last opportunity to prepare Le Mans 24 Heures. After first race at Silverstone where more downforce setting and configuration was used, this provide a more complete picture of actual performance of different cars. Standard solution adopted on LMP cars to ensure proper rear brakes cooling is the use of internal duct, inside rear fender, feeding with fresh air caliper-disc assembly. External air scope contributes to drag, due to the air momentum variation associated with change in airflow direction and additionally to their shape. Consolidated ...

WEC 2017 season is moving forward after prologue at Monza, first race at Silverstone and last race at Spa Francorchamps. Monza as a circuit was a good opportunity to test new cars on low downforce configuration measuring performance on long straight with significant top speed. Silverstone need a different aero setting, certainly with higher level of downforce on its several high lateral g corners. Finally Spa, again a good training session considering Le Mans. LMP1 are very complex and sophisticated race cars that over the season offers plenty of opportunities to small development kit, generally known as micro aerodynamics refinements. Speculation on blown diffuser have been very ...

WEC 2017 has recently started and once again the discussions related to rear diffuser confirms that this topic is still actual. Let’s  review very briefly why rear diffuser concept is a key point on race car design: firstly underbody flow is responsible of at least 30% of total downforce generation but most importantly this share of downforce is generally created with high efficiency value (L/D). All prototypes cars are creating great level of downforce using front splitter which is practically a front wing in ground effect. Splitter act as main elements and a second element as blow flap complete the front aero device. Audi with his extreme R15 -2009 was the first using this ...

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