What's the story with the Nissan Delta Wing at Le Mans?, Strange looking machine Options

[DNHunt]

What could be the advantages and disadvantages? Maybe weight and aero advantages. What would be the front suspension issues?

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.racintoday.com-598-1339856566.1.jpg)

Dave

[DBCooper]

There aren't any particularly "tight areas" at Lemans, but why would one wheel make turn-in any quicker?

[Cap'n Krusty]

There aren't any particularly "tight areas" at Lemans, but why would one wheel make turn-in any quicker?

"One wheel"? Looked at the picture yet? 2 front fenders. BTW, it's been all over the car media for well over a year, and Dan Gurney's heavily involved. AFIK, he's not generally involved with loser ideas.

The Cap'n

[DBCooper]

There aren't any particularly "tight areas" at Lemans, but why would one wheel make turn-in any quicker?

"One wheel"? Looked at the picture yet? 2 front fenders. BTW, it's been all over the car media for well over a year, and Dan Gurney's heavily involved. AFIK, he's not generally involved with loser ideas.

The Cap'n

Excuse me, should have asked "...why would the equivalent of one wheel make it turn in any quicker?" with the emphasis on "turn in". And so far no good answer.

[Richard Casto]

There aren't any particularly "tight areas" at Lemans, but why would one wheel make turn-in any quicker?

"One wheel"? Looked at the picture yet? 2 front fenders. BTW, it's been all over the car media for well over a year, and Dan Gurney's heavily involved. AFIK, he's not generally involved with loser ideas.

The Cap'n

Excuse me, should have said "...why would the equivalent of one wheel make it turn in any quicker?" with the emphasis on "turn in". And still no good answer.

There are a number of different write ups regarding "why" it works. Here is a quote that may talk to what you are looking for...

"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."

That quote is from here...

http://www.deltawingracing.com/the-car/

I think the main factor is that they don't try to control body roll via the front of the car. In fact, I don't think that it even has to have a need for much real roll stiffness due to the narrow front track. So as the car rolls in a turn, the front doesn't have to deal with those loads. Also the majority of braking is done at the rear. So the front can just focus on turning. Word is that front tire wear was also very low.

Regardless of if you like the car or not, it does seem to turn very well. While I don't like the car (see above post), I generally don't doubt the listed technical merits.

Richard