Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2016 i Racecar Engineering

Tom Wolfe explored and extolled the character and make-up of test pilots and astronauts in The Right Stuff, where testicular fortitude and a cool approach to crisis and challenge was built into the breed. Motor racing had much of the same requisites; talent and courage, plus a competitive spirit to bring out the best in the protagonists. But during the course of the book the worm in the fruit began to appear. After the initial exploratory reaches of aviation, where flying skills were paramount, the progression into space flight led to the derring-do of pilots giving way to the work of engineers, relegating the pilots’ role to being simply ‘Spam in a can’ in the subsequent capsule launches – not giving input into what was happening and just going along…

Anew category in 2015, with new technical challenges, not least on the aerodynamics front, LMP3 has tempted some well-known and respected constructors into involvement, and we have been privileged to closely study one of them. The Ginetta-Nissan LMP3 car came into the MIRA full-scale wind tunnel with us last summer and we saw in our November 2015 issue that there was a good correlation on aerodynamic balance between the set-up found in prior track testing and in the wind tunnel. The regulations for this new category mandate less powerful rear diffusers and wings than can be used in LMP2, and as a result the Ginetta initially needed more rear end downforce, which was achieved with large Gurneys on the wing and rear deck, in order to obtain an acceptable aerodynamic…

It’s the penultimate lap of the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel has nursed his tyres through a 29 lap stint and looks set to reap the reward of a podium finish. Then the rubber lets go dramatically. In the paddock there are recriminations, Pirelli is once again at the centre of a media storm. As it turns out this issue was far from the Italian firm’s fault, but it was not the first time the tyres have been the story of a race weekend, and with a new deal signed to supply F1 until 2019 it will almost certainly not be the last time Pirelli will have to deal with PR fallout. Which sometimes makes you wonder, why does it bother? Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, laughs when asked…

Darren Cox, the man who spearheaded Nissan’s ill-fated return to top-line sportscar racing in 2015, has now left the Japanese company. Cox, who in his role as the marketing and motorsport boss of Nissan’s sporting arm, NISMO, brought Nissan back to Le Mans with the radical front-wheel-drive GT-R LM project, leaves Nissan after 13 years with the firm. While the LMP1 car was generally seen as a failure, in its first year at least, Cox was also responsible for launching the hugely successful GT Academy, which turned gamers into professional racing drivers, while he also oversaw the radical DeltaWing and ZEOD RC Garage 56 Le Mans assaults. Cox said of his departure:‘The decision to leave Nissan was not an easy one. I have enjoyed a great many years working on…

UK circuit operating giant Motor Sport Vision (MSV) has expanded its business outside its home country with the acquisition of a French airbase which it intends to develop into a huge motorsport complex. MSV, which is headed by former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer, has completed the freehold purchase of the Laon-Couvron aerodrome, which is located five miles north-west of the city of Laon and is a former French air force and army base – and was also used by the Luftwaffe in WW2. The site extends to 1263 acres and includes two former runways, the largest being 3000m long, together with extensive perimeter roads and apron areas. There are over 60 buildings, including many vehicle workshops, personnel accommodation buildings, a sports centre, restaurant, cinema, rifle range and an equestrian centre,…

Fluid transfer Flexible flow solution Specialty Fasteners, in conjunction with its technical partner Samco, have released AeroFlo, a brand new integral silicone hose and fluid coupling assembly which is said to eliminate the need for complex tube bending. This new product features the unique Hydraflow 14J21 coupling with a Samco Xtreme Aramid fibre reinforced silicone hose. This allows for smooth and safe water and air transfer for quick release radiators and intercoolers. The hose removes the need for complex tube bending and allows for greater packaging options. An additional benefit in the cut and thrust of close racing is the greater resistance of hoses or tubes to becoming dislodged in the case of an impact. The system comes in a range of configurations and sizes (from 32mm up to 63mm,…

SIDETRACK Silver Arrows they may be, but the Mercedes W06 cars look grey on screen Formula 1 has not been short of criticism lately, and perhaps I can gently stir the pot a bit more, but from a simple perspective. Regardless of all the politicking and endless discussions, there are ways to improve the show. Considering the vast sums sloshing about (for some), fundamental and relatively inexpensive opportunities to appeal to fans are being missed. Some months ago I touched upon the spectacular Formula 1 concept proposed by Ferrari, and how that would create greater interest – among younger potential fans in particular – because of its futuristic looks. This is especially relevant, as to casual followers F1 cars probably don’t seem to have changed very much in appearance for…

Question My car is a VW Polo GTI that I run in a lightly modified road registered hillclimb class. I use OEM GTI springs that are 15mm lower than normal Polo springs on the front. On the rear I have either the OEM 142lb springs or 130lb springs. The car has front (22mm) and rear (20mm) adjustable anti-roll bars both set to hardest setting. My non-adjustable front camber is - 3/4-degree and rear is - 1-degree. I have seen pictures of my car coming out of tight corners and the inside rear has lifted. The car feels good in those corners and gets the power down well considering it has an open diff. The pictures also show that the front outside wheel is vertical. But in faster second and third…

The FIA has put out to tender the contract for a new independent cost-controlled engine to be introduced into Formula 1 in 2017. It’s believed the 1.6 turbo engine is to be sold for around £10m and it will be a non-hybrid unit, though with equalised performance with current PUs. It is also be designed with a more crowd-pleasing engine sound in mind. In a statement the governing body said: ‘The FIA has decided to launch a consultation among the engine manufacturers in order to potentially identify for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons an exclusive alternative engine manufacturer which will be solely entitled to supply this alternative engine to the competitors entered for said seasons of the championship. ‘The FIA is now calling for expressions of interest to identify…

Running from the 14th to the 17th of January at the NEC in Birmingham, Autosport International is Europe’s largest pre-season motorsport event. Suppliers and buyers of cutting edge technology choose the Autosport show to accelerate business in the New Year by showcasing their latest products and establishing long-lasting professional relationships. Autosport International provides a platform for industry professionals to meet in a business-to-business environment, generating an estimated £1bn of global motorsport business. The UK remains the home of the global motorsport industry, with the sector driving £9bn to the economy. As such, Autosport International is ideally located and the event continues to be the premier show for exhibitors from across Europe, Asia an America . Autosport Engineering The 2016 show represents a significant milestone for Autosport Engineering, which celebrates its…

Data analysis software can be misleading if close attention isn’t paid to how the data is being displayed within a plot. With this in mind, here’s a few handy suggestions and tips you may wish to adopt that could save you from wasting valuable time deciphering data. Alarms When looking at a screen that is full of data channels, checking that all of the channel values are within a safe range is a constant game of catch-up if you’re just looking at traces or a list of numbers. Most software packages provide the ability to set alarm conditions for channels which help you monitor them easily, so that you can focus your analysis on performance without compromising safety. You will have to enable the alarms for your trace and set…

Integro, an international insurance broker and risk management firm, claims to have become the world’s largest motorsport insurance broker following its purchase of Lloyd’s broker Ellis Clowes. The deal was finalised in November, but no financial details were disclosed. London and New York-based Ellis Clowes has been a leader in the field in global motorsports insurance for more than 30 years, while the firm also provides tailored insurance solutions to clients operating in the conflict and security sector, marine and aviation. Neil Clayton, leader of Integro’s global Entertainment and Sports practice, said of the deal: ‘For over 30 years, Ellis Clowes has built an unrivalled reputation for providing services in the motorsports sector internationally, and we are delighted that Karen Ellis and her incredibly accomplished team of specialists in the…

Dave Ryan, once a stalwart at McLaren, has been signed up by the Manor F1 team as its new sporting director. Ryan will replace Graeme Lowdon in the position, who along with team principal John Booth is to leave the squad at the end of this season. Lowdon and Booth’s resignation is reportedly due to a difference of opinion with team owner Stephen Fitzpatrick over Manor’s future strategy. Fitzpatrick, who is the founder of independent energy company Ovo, saved the Manor team with his timely financial intervention in February, after it fell into administration towards the end of the 2014 season. Ryan worked at McLaren for 30 years before leaving under a cloud for his part in the controversy over whether Lewis Hamilton lied to stewards at the 2009 Australian…

Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) has been awarded the prestigious Simms Medal by the Royal Automobile Club for its Formula E battery. The Simms Medal is only awarded in years when the Royal Automobile Club’s Technical Committee deems there to have been contenders of sufficient merit. The Formula E battery had to be designed from scratch within a 12-month time-frame, fit into a strictly pre-determined safety cell, cool sufficiently, be 100 per cent consistent from one team to the next (40 racecars plus spares), and last an entire season with no loss of power or performance. The batteries showed remarkable reliability in the inaugural Formula E season, with only one failure in 440 race starts. WAE is only the eighth recipient of the Simms Medal, with previous winners including Ben Bowlby…