Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Grand-Am, ALMS merger results in new United SportsCar Racing series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/grand-am-alms-merger-results-in-new-united-sportscar-racing-ser/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/grand-am-alms-merger-results-in-new-united-sportscar-racing-ser/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/15/grand-am-alms-merger-results-in-new-united-sportscar-racing-ser/#commentsFiled under: ,



After the merger between Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series was announced last year, a contest was held to name the new combined series, and that new name is now officially the United SportCar Racing series. This new branding will take place at the start of the 2014 season beginning with the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Fans of the American Le Mans Series are probably losing the most in this new series. Not only is the ALMS name (along with the connection to the 24 Hours of Le Mans) going away, but the more exciting P1 prototype class is also being dropped. In the new United SportCar Racing series, the new Prototype class will consist of Daytona Prototypes, ALMS P2 cars and the DeltaWing (including a new closed-cockpit version). The ALMS GT class will be renamed GT Le Mans (GTLM), while GT Daytona (GTD) will combine the current Grand-Am GT class and the ALMS' GTC cars. The Prototype Challenge (PC) and GX classes will both carry over unchanged from Grand-Am and ALMS, respectively.

Grand-Am, ALMS merger results in new United SportsCar Racing series originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsamerican le mans seriesauto racingcar racingdeltawinggrand-amgrand-am alms mergermotorsportsunited sportscar racing seriesFri, 15 Mar 2013 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20505780/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/15/grand-am-alms-merger-results-in-new-united-sportscar-racing-ser/20505780/article-detail.xml 20505780 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/united-sportscar-racing-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/united-sportscar-racing-logo.jpg <![CDATA[DeltaWing coupe to debut at Sebring [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/deltawing-coupe-to-debut-at-sebring/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/deltawing-coupe-to-debut-at-sebring/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/deltawing-coupe-to-debut-at-sebring/#commentsFiled under:

DeltaWing Coupe chassis in garage, wheels off

Just when we thought the DeltaWing couldn't get any weirder, DeltaWing Racing Cars unveils a new enclosed version of the experimental racer. The coupe is set to bow at Sebring International Raceway this week, complete with an all-new tub to help it comply with 2014 LMP1 regulations. The new racer, to be campaigned without former sponsor Nissan, also features a new engine worked up by the minds at Elan Motorsports Technologies. The open-top machine will still get around the track thanks to a revised version of its old turbocharged 2.0-liter mill. So, why put a hardtop on the car?

Engineers say adding the roof offers up an obvious safety advantage, protecting the driver's head from debris, rollovers and the like. The design also moves the driving position to dead center instead of off to the left or right, also as a safety precaution. Drivers Andy Meyrick and Olivier Pla will helm the machine at its inaugural race this weekend which could be as soon as Laguna Seca.

UPDATE: A clarification - the DeltaWing coupe will not race at Sebring, it will merely be displayed. The open-top version of the car will be campaigned with a new, larger engine until the coupe is ready to race.

DeltaWing coupe to debut at Sebring [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsandy meyrickdelta wingdeltawingdeltawing coupeelan motorsports technologieslmp1olivier plasebringsebring international racewayThu, 14 Mar 2013 15:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20502528/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/14/deltawing-coupe-to-debut-at-sebring/20502528/article-detail.xml 20502528 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/01-deltawing-coupe-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/01-deltawing-coupe-628.jpg <![CDATA[DeltaWing shines up nice for 2013 ALMS season]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/deltawing-shines-up-nice-for-2013-alms-season/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/deltawing-shines-up-nice-for-2013-alms-season/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/deltawing-shines-up-nice-for-2013-alms-season/#commentsFiled under: ,



Returning for its sophomore season, numerous changes have been made to the DeltaWing racecar - not the least of which is the fact that it is no longer associated with Nissan - but the most significant update could be a remedy to one of the car's biggest criticisms, its color. In the car's inaugural season, it was reported that other drivers on the track simply couldn't see the racecar, which, due to a combination of its narrow, low-slung stance and its matte black paint scheme, resulted in an early departure from the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a spectacular crash at Petite Le Mans. Rather than redesigning the entire car, though, the DeltaWing team is hoping that a new livery, consisting of a flashy chrome body with red decals, will alleviate some of the visibility problems.

The bright, reflective surface is the polar opposite of the previous livery, and the red accents include the mirrors, trio of rear fins and the DeltaWing name along the side of the car, which replaces the Nissan logo. This chrome, Nissan-less DeltaWing will make it racing debut in less than two weeks at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and Speed TV is also reporting that the closed-cockpit version of the racecar will debut for the ALMS race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in May.

DeltaWing shines up nice for 2013 ALMS season originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12 Hours of Sebring2013 deltawing liveryalmsamerican le mans serieschrome deltawingdeltawingdon panozMon, 04 Mar 2013 16:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20487784/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/04/deltawing-shines-up-nice-for-2013-alms-season/20487784/article-detail.xml 20487784 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2013-deltawing-livery_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/2013-deltawing-livery.jpg <![CDATA[DeltaWing coming back with major updates, enclosed cockpit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/09/deltawing-coming-back-with-major-updates-enclosed-cockpit/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/09/deltawing-coming-back-with-major-updates-enclosed-cockpit/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/09/deltawing-coming-back-with-major-updates-enclosed-cockpit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nissan DeltaWing on track

The development of the DeltaWing is making a break and taking a left turn, with a report on Speed revealing that almost none of the partners who helped make the car possible are involved in its racing plans for 2013. That includes Ben Bowlby, the man who dreamed it up, Dan Gurney's All American Racers, Highcroft Racing and Nissan - all of them have apparently stepped away. The only potential supplier left is Michelin, and it's only potential because Michelin hasn't commented on the matter.

Don Panoz remains, and there's a lot of work going into the three races planned for the DeltaWing this year. A new 1.9-liter race engine with a billet block, direct injection and twin turbos, based off two different Mazda engines, is reportedly being built for the program. Lighter than the Nissan engine formerly used and running on the dyno now, output is at 345 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, meaning it is also more powerful than the Nissan engine.

Its first outing will be at the 12 Hours of Sebring next month, where it will move up to the P1 category. After that, the radical racer will be enclosed - Bowlby originally envisioned a coupe - and it is expected to race at Laguna Seca on May 11 and at Baltimore on August 31. Assuming the racing and performance targets are met, plans are to bring the coupe version of the DeltaWing to market.

DeltaWing coming back with major updates, enclosed cockpit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben bowlbydelta wingdeltawingdon panoznissannissan delta wingnissan deltawingpanozproject 56Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20453606/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/09/deltawing-coming-back-with-major-updates-enclosed-cockpit/20453606/article-detail.xml 20453606 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/nissan-deltawing_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/nissan-deltawing.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan looks back at the DeltaWing's first year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/nissan-looks-back-at-the-deltawings-first-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/nissan-looks-back-at-the-deltawings-first-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/nissan-looks-back-at-the-deltawings-first-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nissan DeltaWing in the paddock

It was a tumultuous year for the Nissan DeltaWing. After garnering the support of sponsors and fielding one of the most unique race cars in recent history, the team suffered an early crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that saw them sidelined during the remainder of the car's debut race. Likewise, a collision during qualifying at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta put the team at the back of the pack for the race. Even so, the car managed to fight its way through the field of competitors to place fifth overall.

Needless to say, the car, its drivers and its team have learned some serious lessons in its first year. To commemorate the DeltaWing's first season on the world's race tracks, Nissan has worked up a quick retrospective video documenting the car's trials and triumphs in 2012. You can check it out by scrolling below.

Continue reading Nissan looks back at the DeltaWing's first year

Nissan looks back at the DeltaWing's first year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of le mans24 hours of lemansdeltawingnissannissan deltawingpetit le mansvideoMon, 10 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20398959/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/10/nissan-looks-back-at-the-deltawings-first-year/20398959/article-detail.xml 20398959 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/deltawing-video-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/deltawing-video-628.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Popular Science</i> magazine's Best Of What's New 2012 all ate up with cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/20/popular-science-magazines-best-of-whats-new-2012-all-at/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/20/popular-science-magazines-best-of-whats-new-2012-all-at/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/20/popular-science-magazines-best-of-whats-new-2012-all-at/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



Popular Science has named the winners in its Best of What's New awards, the victors coming in the categories of aerospace, automotive, engineering, entertainment, gadgets, green, hardware, health, home, recreation, security and software. The automotive category did not go wanting for lauded advancements:
  • Tesla Model S: the Grand Award winner for being "the standard by which all future electric vehicles will be measured."
  • BMW 328i: it's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gets called out for being more powerful and frugal than the six-cylinder it replaces.
  • Ferrari F12 Berlinetta: towering power, towering top speed, 30 percent more fuel efficient than the 599 Fiorano it replaces.
  • Toyota RAV4 EV: the all-electric SUV accelerates better than many conventional SUVs, goes 100 mph and actually beats EPA mileage estimates.
  • Porsche Cayenne Diesel: 406 pound-feet of torque, 33 highway mpg, up to 800 miles from a single tank and Cayenne style, give 'em a trophy.
  • 2013 Ford Fusion: its three flavors - standard, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid - "are the most efficient models in their classes," that latter one expected to outdo the Chevrolet Volt's EPA mileage rating.
  • The DeltaWing: gets kudos for being "the most efficient racecar in history."
  • Mercedes-Benz Magic Vision Control: a holistic solution to keeping your windshield clean and clear year-round.
  • General Motors' MyLink: takes the in-car computer out of the car, puts it in the driver's smartphone.
  • Infiniti Back-Up Collision Intervention: rear-mounted radar and sonar keep track of what's behind you and brake automatically if an obstacle is detected so you don't hit things when you back that Infiniti up.
The automotive category tied with categories like aerospace and health for the number of awards. Congratulations to all the winners, head on over to PopSci for the full details on each of them.

Popular Science magazine's Best Of What's New 2012 all ate up with cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>328iBack-up Collision Preventionbmwcayenne dieseldeltawingfordfusiongminfinitimagic vision controlmercedes-benzmodel smylinknissan deltawingporscherav4 evteslatoyotaTue, 20 Nov 2012 17:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20381608/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/20/popular-science-magazines-best-of-whats-new-2012-all-at/20381608/article-detail.xml 20381608 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/psawards_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/psawards.jpg <![CDATA[The sights and sounds of the Nissan DeltaWing at Petit Le Mans [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/the-sights-and-sounds-of-the-nissan-deltawing-at-petit-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/the-sights-and-sounds-of-the-nissan-deltawing-at-petit-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/24/the-sights-and-sounds-of-the-nissan-deltawing-at-petit-le-mans/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nissan DeltaWing at Petit Le Mans

After being sideswiped at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and suffering a a similar accident during a practice session last week, the Nissan DeltaWing was in danger of becoming known for its crashes more than its racing prowess or unique appearance. That's why we hoped the racecar, competing in only its second race, would finish the 1,000-mile endurance madness of Petit Le Mans.

Thankfully, the Nissan/Highcroft Racing team did more than just that on Saturday, running a flawless race at Road Atlanta and finishing in fifth place overall. The result could have been even higher if pass-around periods during full course cautions would have gone the team's way.

Despite finishing in the top 10 in qualifying, the DeltaWing was relegated to the back of the grid for the start of the race thanks to its unclassified status, but that changed quickly as the car went from 42nd to 8th in its first stint.

Drivers Lucas Ordonez and Gunnar Jeannette drove a smooth and steady race up to fifth place, the car's speed and efficiency helping greatly here. The DeltaWing has just half the weight and half the aerodynamic drag of a typical ALMS prototype, meaning the team could go further between pit stops and change tires less often.

Scroll down below to watch a video detailing the DeltaWing's historic finish at Petit Le Mans or check out our photos from the race in the gallery above.

Continue reading The sights and sounds of the Nissan DeltaWing at Petit Le Mans [w/video]

The sights and sounds of the Nissan DeltaWing at Petit Le Mans [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deltawingnissannissan deltawingpetit le mansvideosWed, 24 Oct 2012 12:46:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20356106/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/24/the-sights-and-sounds-of-the-nissan-deltawing-at-petit-le-mans/20356106/article-detail.xml 20356106 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/nissan-deltawing-petit-le-mans_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/nissan-deltawing-petit-le-mans.jpg <![CDATA[2012 ALMS champions crowned at Petit Le Mans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/22/2012-alms-champions-crowned-at-petit-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/22/2012-alms-champions-crowned-at-petit-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/22/2012-alms-champions-crowned-at-petit-le-mans/#commentsFiled under:

2012 Petit Le Mans

The American Le Mans Series headed to Braselton, GA this past weekend for the 15th annual Petit Le Mans and the conclusion of its 2012 season. While some of the championships had already been decided earlier in the season - the Corvette team had already captured the manufacturer, team and driver championships for the GT class prior to the race, for example - there were still several titles up for grabs. The Muscle Milk Pickett Racing team, having dominated much of the ALMS season in the fastest P1 class, needed to finish just 70 percent of the race distance to take home the crown, as did the Level 5 Motorsports team in P2.

While Petit Le Mans remains one of the most important events on the North American motorsports calendar, there were some big names absent from the field at Road Atlanta. Peugeot, having dropped funding for its Le Mans program, wouldn't be around to defend their overall wins from the past three years. Audi, with the World Endurance Championship dropping Petit Le Mans from their calendar and no Peugeot to battle, decided to forgo the trip across the Atlantic as well.

Even so, the field of cars for Petit Le Mans remained strong thanks to the European Le Mans series making the 1,000 mile endurance race their season finale as well. The Europeans proved to be quick, with the Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota taking the overall pole position and the Morgan-Nissan of Oak Racing took the top qualifying spot in P2.

Adding some extra flair to this year's race was the addition of the Nissan DeltaWing, making its first competition appearance in North America. Despite having a scary crash on Wednesday and undergoing extensive repairs, the DeltaWing proved to have significant pace throughout practice and qualifying.

Scroll down for a full race report from the 2012 Petit Le Mans, and check out our exhaustive gallery of high-res images above.

Continue reading 2012 ALMS champions crowned at Petit Le Mans

2012 ALMS champions crowned at Petit Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 petit le mansalmsamerican le mans seriesdeltawinggt classlmp1lmp2nissannissan deltawingpetit le mansMon, 22 Oct 2012 09:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20356105/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/22/2012-alms-champions-crowned-at-petit-le-mans/20356105/article-detail.xml 20356105 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/petit-le-mans-2012_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/petit-le-mans-2012.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan DeltaWing repaired and ready for action at Petit Le Mans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/18/nissan-deltawing-repaired-and-ready-for-action-at-petit-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/18/nissan-deltawing-repaired-and-ready-for-action-at-petit-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/18/nissan-deltawing-repaired-and-ready-for-action-at-petit-le-mans/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nissan DeltaWing at Petit Le Mans

After first watching the scary crash of the Nissan DeltaWing at Road Atlanta yesterday, we were worried that the one-off racecar wouldn't be ready for Petit Le Mans on Saturday. We needn't have worried, though, as the car has been quickly repaired by the Highcroft Racing Team in plenty of time. In fact, the car will be running in the night practice session later today and in the practice and qualifying sessions tomorrow.

The quick turnaround is due to the fact that the crash didn't cause as much damage to the car as initially thought. Ben Bowlby, the car's designer, tells us that while the accident looked severe it didn't compromise the integrity of the chassis.

"There was skin damage to an enormous number of parts - both sides of the nose, the side pods, the tail, one mirror - were all damaged, but the chassis wasn't other than a few scratches," he tells us.

The suspension system and engine have also been swapped out so as to have a fresh start before the race. In all the repairs took right around 24 hours.

You can see our photos of the fully repaired Nissan DeltaWing in the gallery above, and check back this weekend for more coverage of the car and Petit Le Mans.

Nissan DeltaWing repaired and ready for action at Petit Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deltawingnissannissan deltawingpetit le manspetit le mans 2012Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:19:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20354561/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/18/nissan-deltawing-repaired-and-ready-for-action-at-petit-le-mans/20354561/article-detail.xml 20354561 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/deltawing-petit-le-mans-pit_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/deltawing-petit-le-mans-pit.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Nissan DeltaWing's scary crash in Atlanta]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/18/watch-nissan-deltawings-scary-crash-in-atlanta/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/18/watch-nissan-deltawings-scary-crash-in-atlanta/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/18/watch-nissan-deltawings-scary-crash-in-atlanta/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Yesterday, we caught word on Twitter that the Nissan DeltaWing had crashed during testing for this weekend's Petit Le Mans. Now Nissan has provided us with some frightening footage of how the incident went down. The important thing is that driver Gunnar Jeannette is okay, but this is yet another setback for Nissan and its radically experimental prototype racecar.

Just like the DeltaWing's crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this wreck was a result of the car being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Heading into Turn 11 at Road Atlanta, Jeannette was passing the Green Hornet Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, competing in the GT-Challenge class, when the Porsche veered into the side of the DeltaWing right in front of the left rear wheel. This crash might bring in to question not just concerns over the racer's visibility to other drivers, it might also raise stability concerns for the wedge-shaped car since it appears the PIT-maneuver-like contact with the Porsche would have just sent most cars into a spin rather than flipping over.

The good news for the DeltaWing is that Nissan's Steve Yaeger, technology and motorsport communications manager, says the damage wasn't that severe, and it is hoping to have the car back on the track today.

Scroll down to watch the frightening crash.

Continue reading Watch Nissan DeltaWing's scary crash in Atlanta

Watch Nissan DeltaWing's scary crash in Atlanta originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crash videodeltawingdeltawing crashdeltawing racinggunnar jeannettenissannissan deltawingpetit le manspetit lemansvideoThu, 18 Oct 2012 10:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20353709/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/18/watch-nissan-deltawings-scary-crash-in-atlanta/20353709/article-detail.xml 20353709 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/deltawing-crash-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/deltawing-crash-628.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan DeltaWing crashes during practice for Petit Le Mans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/17/nissan-deltawing-crashes-during-practice-for-petit-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/17/nissan-deltawing-crashes-during-practice-for-petit-le-mans/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/17/nissan-deltawing-crashes-during-practice-for-petit-le-mans/#commentsFiled under: ,



Fate has been cruel to the unique little Nissan DeltaWing. Already an outcast because of its odd shape, the experimental prototype was unceremoniously ran off the road in its inaugural outing last June during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It's followup to that unfinished effort is supposed to be this weekend's Petit Le Mans race, the season finale of the American Le Mans Series in which the DeltaWing will be participating next year. But word from the Twitterverse is that the DeltaWing has crashed again, this time during testing for the big race at Road Atlanta. The official tweet from the DeltaWing team reads as follows.

Incident at @RoadAtlanta. GTC Porsche made contact with @gunnarjeannette who got upside down. Gunnar is ok. Car report to follow. #ALMS


Gunnar Jeannette was behind the wheel at the time of contact with the unidentified GTC Porsche and, as the tweet indicates, is "ok." Fellow series driver Bruno Junqueira, however, tweeted the above pic of the damage, which, without the context of video, looks pretty severe.

There's been no official word yet from the DeltaWing team or Nissan about what happens next, specifically whether or not the car can be repaired in time for this weekend's race or there's another one waiting in the wings. We'll let you know when we know.

Nissan DeltaWing crashes during practice for Petit Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsamerican le mans seriescrashdeltawinggunnar jeannettenissanpetit le manswreckWed, 17 Oct 2012 16:23:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20353092/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/17/nissan-deltawing-crashes-during-practice-for-petit-le-mans/20353092/article-detail.xml 20353092 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/a5blbhyccaaiouj308916-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/a5blbhyccaaiouj308916-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan DeltaWing will compete for points in 2013 ALMS season]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/16/nissan-deltawing-will-compete-for-points-in-2013-alms-season/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/16/nissan-deltawing-will-compete-for-points-in-2013-alms-season/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/16/nissan-deltawing-will-compete-for-points-in-2013-alms-season/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nissan DeltaWing

The Nissan DeltaWing is set to tackle the American Le Mans Series as a fully classified car for 2013. That means the odd-looking racer will be eligible for points starting next year, but we won't have to wait until the new season kicks off to see the machine on North American soil. As we've previously heard, the DeltaWing will run in this weekend's Petit Le Mans competition unclassified as a factory entry. Nissan campaigned its racer in a similar fashion at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans. IMSA plans to collect data on the DeltaWing at the upcoming race at Road Atlanta in order to craft a set of rules for the race car.

Organizers should have no shortage of information to analyze. Petit Le Mans is a 10-hour slog that covers 1,000 miles in 2.54-mile laps of Road Atlanta. This weekend's race kicks off at 11:30 AM EST on October 21.

Nissan DeltaWing will compete for points in 2013 ALMS season originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almsamerican le mans seriesdeltawingimsanissannissan deltawingroad atlantaTue, 16 Oct 2012 10:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20350065/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/16/nissan-deltawing-will-compete-for-points-in-2013-alms-season/20350065/article-detail.xml 20350065 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/nissan-deltawing_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/nissan-deltawing.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan DeltaWing headed back into the fray, will race at Petit Le Mans [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/17/nissan-deltawing-headed-back-into-the-fray-will-race-at-petit-l/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/17/nissan-deltawing-headed-back-into-the-fray-will-race-at-petit-l/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/17/nissan-deltawing-headed-back-into-the-fray-will-race-at-petit-l/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Nissan DeltaWing race car - front dead-on view, studio image

The racing world has not seen the last of the DeltaWing. Nissan's dart-shaped moldbreaker was last seen at Le Mans in June, where the prototype racer was accidentally taken out of competition by a Toyota prototype. Driver Satoshi Motoyama famously tried in vain to resuscitate his damaged racer for 45 minutes, a struggle that has since been labeled by many as one of the most heroic and touching "agony of defeat" moments in motorsports history.

Addressing what it says is "unfinished business," Nissan has confirmed that GT Academy vet Lucas Ordonez and ALMS PC class champ Gunnar Jeannette will race the car at Petit Le Mans, the ALMS series finale, at Road Atlanta on October 17-20.

The Nismo team trio that fielded the DeltaWing at Le Mans - Satoshi Motoyama, Marino Franchitti and Michael Krumm - are apparently otherwise committed, so the driving duties for the 10-hour, 1,000-mile enduro will fall to Ordonez and Jeannette.

Better still, Nissan reports that the DeltaWing could return to race as part of the ALMS in 2013. As we previously reported, the ALMS and Grand-Am racing series are merging for 2014, and Nissan says "provision will be made" for the DeltaWing in the combined series new regulations, opening the door for it to compete for points.

To watch a video of Nissan talking about the DeltaWing's return to competition and check out the official press release, scroll down.

Continue reading Nissan DeltaWing headed back into the fray, will race at Petit Le Mans [w/video]

Nissan DeltaWing headed back into the fray, will race at Petit Le Mans [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdelta wingdeltawingnissanpetit le manspetit lemanssatoshi motoyamavideoMon, 17 Sep 2012 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20325420/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/17/nissan-deltawing-headed-back-into-the-fray-will-race-at-petit-l/20325420/article-detail.xml 20325420 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/nissan-deltawing-studio-nose_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/nissan-deltawing-studio-nose.jpg <![CDATA[DeltaWing wants to be the 2014 Indy Lights chassis]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/12/deltawing-wants-to-be-the-2014-indy-lights-chassis/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/12/deltawing-wants-to-be-the-2014-indy-lights-chassis/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/12/deltawing-wants-to-be-the-2014-indy-lights-chassis/#commentsFiled under: , ,

DeltaWing

In May the Indy Lights series, the top feeder for IndyCar, put out an RFP from manufacturers interested in constructing a new chassis for 2014 to replace the 10-year-old Dallara currently in use.

According to reports, hands were raised by "five or six" companies that included Dallara, Mygale, Swift and Mugen. Also among the submisions, according to Racer Magazine, is the group behind the DeltaWing - sans Nissan, which was a collaboration specifically for Le Mans - composed of the designers, Dan Gurney's All American Racers, and Elan Motorsports Technologies (the home of Panoz). Remember, the DeltaWing was originally created as an IndyCar chassis proposal.

The DeltaWing would certainly fulfill part of the first requirement of the new Indy Lights chassis, that it have a "forward-thinking, sophisticated and exciting formula." The necessity for paddle shifting, upgraded data systems and alternative fuel considerations sounds easy enough but we don't know what alterations the car might need to satisfy some of the other specs, such as adaptability to the variety of circuits "with a minimum of facility-specific parts," the ability to fit a "broad spectrum of drivers and seating positions," and "improved aerodynamic performance that must also allow for enhanced sponsor placement opportunities on the car." Overall, Indy Lights authroities would like to acquire a manufacturer-badged engine and see top speeds bumped up a bit as well.

Not that the deadline for submissions has passed, the entries are being considered and it's said that a decision could come in the next two months.

DeltaWing wants to be the 2014 Indy Lights chassis originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Aug 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dallaradeltawingindy lightsindycarmotorsportsSun, 12 Aug 2012 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20298856/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/12/deltawing-wants-to-be-the-2014-indy-lights-chassis/20298856/article-detail.xml 20298856 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/deltawingindylights_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/deltawingindylights.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Nissan driver Satoshi Motoyama's valiant attempts to revive his DeltaWing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/18/watch-nissan-driver-satoshi-motoyamas-valiant-attempts-to-reviv/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/18/watch-nissan-driver-satoshi-motoyamas-valiant-attempts-to-reviv/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/18/watch-nissan-driver-satoshi-motoyamas-valiant-attempts-to-reviv/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Satoshi Motoyama Nissan DeltaWing crash

There are really only two possible outcomes when it comes to automobile racing. We're all familiar with the thrill of victory, but sometimes it's the agony of defeat that touches us most deeply. Take, for instance, the example of Nissan driver Satoshi Motoyama, one of thee pilots flinging the automaker's innovative DeltaWing around the track at Le Mans.

After being taken out by a Toyota prototype that was in the running for the overall victory, the DeltaWing was sent careening into the barrier. According to race rules, if the pit crew or race officials were allowed access to the car, its race would be over. For the next two hours, Motoyama poked, pried and desperately tried to put his race car back together again.

Sadly, he failed. The car was unable to get back on track, leaving Motoyama weeping on the sideline. Join us in offering a healthy round of respect to Motoyama and his valiant attempt to continue racing. Check out a pair of videos detailing the episode by scrolling down below.

Continue reading Watch Nissan driver Satoshi Motoyama's valiant attempts to revive his DeltaWing

Watch Nissan driver Satoshi Motoyama's valiant attempts to revive his DeltaWing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delta wingdeltawingle mansnissannissan lemansSatoshi MotoyamaMon, 18 Jun 2012 15:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20261017/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/18/watch-nissan-driver-satoshi-motoyamas-valiant-attempts-to-reviv/20261017/article-detail.xml 20261017 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/nissan-deltawing-crash-le-mans_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/nissan-deltawing-crash-le-mans.jpg <![CDATA[24 Hours of Le Mans delivers something old, something new [SPOILERS]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/17/24-hours-of-le-mans-delivers-something-old-something-new-spoil/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/17/24-hours-of-le-mans-delivers-something-old-something-new-spoil/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/17/24-hours-of-le-mans-delivers-something-old-something-new-spoil/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



If you don't want to know who finished where in the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, then you should head to another post this instant...

With Peugeot's withdrawal from the world's greatest endurance race, everyone was looking to the rookie Toyota team and its two petrol-hybrid TS030 race cars to provide some kind of worthy competition for the two diesel-hybrid Audi R18 e-tron quattros and two Audi diesel R18 Ultras. And they did. Five hours from the drop of the green flag, Nicolas Lapierre in the No. 7 Toyota passed Benoit Treluyer in the No. 1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro on track to take the lead.

At almost the same time, Anthony Davidson in the No. 8 Toyota was getting launched into the air when a GT Pro-class Ferrari turned into him heading into Mulsanne Corner. Both drivers had massive impacts with the tire barrier, ending their races, and Davidson is now lying in the hospital with two fractured vertebra. Worse yet, the second Toyota had fallen to second due to a pit stop during the safety car period, and on the restart it crashed into the Nissan DeltaWing. That DeltaWing's race was ended after a solid run in its experimental class - its biggest issue appeared to be that other drivers couldn't see it. The Toyota returned to the pits for repairs and got back on track, but retired with engine failure about 12 hours in.



That left the four Audis to box for the victory, and they took the boxing seriously, making contact with tire walls, with other cars and with each other before the No. 1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro driven by last year's winners Treluyer, Andre Lotterer and Marcel Fassler took the win, the first Le Mans win by a hybrid-powered car. Second was the No. 2 R18 e-tron quattro of "Mr. Le Mans" Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Dindo Capello, then the two diesel-powered R18 ultras in third and fifth. Nicolas Prost, son of four-time F1 champion Alain Prost, took fourth in a Lola Toyota, breaking up the Audi family.

The LMP2 class win was snagged by Ryan Dalziel in an HPD-Honda, pursued heavily by the Oreca-Nissan team. Giancarlo Fisichella took the AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia to victory in the GT Pro class after having crashed the car so badly on Wednesday that the team had to start the race at the back of the pack; the GT Am Corvettes were beset by mechanical trouble and on-track incidents. Redemption for the home team came from Pedro Lamy in the Labre Corvette C6.R, who claimed GT Am honors ahead of the Imsa Porsche team.

24 Hours of Le Mans delivers something old, something new [SPOILERS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of le mansandre lottereraudiaudi r18 e-tron quattroaudi r18 ultrachevroletcorvette c6.rcorvette c6rdeltawingferrarile mansmotorsportsnissannissan deltawingr18r18 e-tron quattror18 ultratoyotatoyota ts030ts030Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20260279/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/17/24-hours-of-le-mans-delivers-something-old-something-new-spoil/20260279/article-detail.xml 20260279 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/00-2012-24-hours-of-le-mans-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/00-2012-24-hours-of-le-mans-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Toyota racer Anthony Davidson's terrifying airborne crash at Le Mans]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/16/watch-toyota-racer-anthony-davidsons-terrifying-airborne-crash/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/16/watch-toyota-racer-anthony-davidsons-terrifying-airborne-crash/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/16/watch-toyota-racer-anthony-davidsons-terrifying-airborne-crash/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Anthony Davidson of Toyota's terrifying Le Mans wreck

The LMP1 racer standing on its nose is the No. 8 Toyota TS030 driven by Anthony Davidson, having just recently begun his driving stint and only five hours into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while the red car next to it is the No. 81 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia driven by Piergiuseppe Perrazini. Davidson took the inside line down the Mulsanne Straight, and based on the vantage point in the video, it looks like Davidson had got a decent chunk of the Toyota ahead of the Ferrari when Perrazini turned into him.

The result were hard runs into the tire wall and the end of the race for both drivers. Davidson got out on his own but was sent to the hospital for observation until Monday morning, but thankfully Toyota has released a statement saying Davidson shows "no signs of any injuries." However, reports indicate Davidson has fractured two vertebra, and he soon tweeted from the hospital "Well that was a big one! Lying in a French hospital with a broken back wasn't what I had in mind at this stage in the race..."

The safety car came out while the accident was cleared, but the Toyota team's woes were compounded when the No. 7 TS030 driven by Kazuki Nakajima drove into the Nissan DeltaWing of Satoshi Motoyama on the restart. The contact sent the DeltaWing into the wall (and despite efforts to revive it, out of the race) and the No. 7 Toyota headed back to the pits for repairs and a steep drop down the order. As of this writing, Audi's brace of R18 E-Tron Quattro racers appear to have the inside track on a victory.

Scroll down to watch videos of both Davidson's crash and the DeltaWing accident (along with aftermath footage).

Continue reading Watch Toyota racer Anthony Davidson's terrifying airborne crash at Le Mans

Watch Toyota racer Anthony Davidson's terrifying airborne crash at Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 22:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of le mansanthony davidsondeltawingle manslemansnissannissan deltawingsatoshi motoyamatoyotatoyota ts030ts030videoSat, 16 Jun 2012 22:23:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20260160/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/16/watch-toyota-racer-anthony-davidsons-terrifying-airborne-crash/20260160/article-detail.xml 20260160 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/anthonydavidsonlemanscrs_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/anthonydavidsonlemanscrs.jpg <![CDATA[Le Mans starting grid set, Audi hybrid takes pole but Toyotas break up the pack]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/le-mans-starting-grid-set-audi-hybrid-takes-pole-but-toyotas-br/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/le-mans-starting-grid-set-audi-hybrid-takes-pole-but-toyotas-br/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/15/le-mans-starting-grid-set-audi-hybrid-takes-pole-but-toyotas-br/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



There were times during the past two days of qualifying when it looked like Audi might own the first two rows of the starting grid for this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans. The R18 e-tron quattro hybrid cars were running the quickest lap times, with the two diesel R18 Ultras following close behind. The two Toyota TS 030 hybrid cars were also quick, but it seemed they were always nipping at the heels of an Audi's lap time, much like the Audis used to trail the faster Peugeots during qualifying for Le Mans races of the recent past. And we all know how that usually ended for Peugeot.



So when the third and final qualifying session ended last evening, we were surprised to learn the starting grid had ended up as anything but expected. An Audi will have pole position, and a hybrid car at that, which marks the first time such a powertrain has earned the honor. The No. 1 R18 e-tron quattro beat all comers with a fastest lap of 3:23.787, nearly two seconds quicker than last year's pole.

Next to the first R18 e-tron quattro will be another R18, but not a hybrid. The No. 3 R18 Ultra will be starting second, followed by the No. 8 Toyota TS030 hybrid starting third, the other R18 e-tron quattro starting fourth, the No. 7 Toyota TS030 hybrid starting fifth and the final R18 Ultra starting sixth. So not a single car of the quickest six will start next to its twin, which suggests that none of the three powertrain technologies has a lock on leading the race.



In LMP2, the No. 25 Oreca Nissan led the field with a fastest lap of 3:38.181, followed closely by the No. 24 Oak Racing Morgan Judd and then four more Oreca Nissans. The Nissan DeltaWing, racing in an experimental class of its own, wound up near the back of the LMP2 field with a fastest lap of 3:42.612 set on the first day of qualifying.

The GTE Pro class promises to be as exciting as ever this year, with the pole being led by the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia, which recorded a particularly quick lap of 3:56.484 during the final qualifying session. The Ferrari will be followed by Aston Martin Racing's No. 97 Vantage V8 and the first of two Corvette Racing C6 ZR1s.

Lastly, the GTE Am class will be lead by the No. 79 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 RSR with a leading lap time of 3:57.594, followed by another 911 from Prospeed Competition and the No. 99 Aston Martin Racing V8 Vantage.

Click here to find out the best place, time and way to experience this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Le Mans starting grid set, Audi hybrid takes pole but Toyotas break up the pack originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Nissan DeltaWing took it first laps at Circuit de la Sarthe yesterday during practice sessions for the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans that's fast approaching. The world's oldest endurance race takes place in less than two weeks. While the DeltaWing underwent its first public testing session back in March at Sebring, this is the first time its drivers - Michael Krumm, Satoshi Motoyama and Marino Franchitti - have driven it at Le Mans.

The team was able to complete 54 practice laps, almost all of which were on the same set of tires. A brief instance of weather allowed for a single lap to be run on rain tires. The DeltaWing's quickest practice lap of 3 minutes, 47.980 seconds came at the hands of Motoyama. Based on the results of last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, that lap time would make the odd-looking DeltaWing competitive with the LMP2 class of cars, and notably quicker than either class of GT cars.

The DeltaWing will compete at Le Mans in the experimental "Garage 56" class meant to showcase innovative technology, and with half the weight, half the horsepower and half the aerodynamic drag of a typical Le Mans Prototype car, should consume tires and fuel at a much lower rate than the rest of the field. Backed by both Nissan and Michelin, the DeltaWing is powered by a 300-horsepower 1.6-liter Nissan DIG-T turbo engine and rides on special tires developed by Michelin that are only four inches wide in the front.

Scroll down to watch the video of the car's practice testing.

Continue reading Nissan DeltaWing takes first practice laps at Le Mans

Nissan DeltaWing takes first practice laps at Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of le mansdeltawingle mansnissanpractice sessionMon, 04 Jun 2012 18:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20251022/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/04/nissan-deltawing-takes-first-practice-laps-at-le-mans/20251022/article-detail.xml 20251022 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/deltawing-le-mans-practice_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/deltawing-le-mans-practice.jpg <![CDATA[Panoz wants to race fields of DeltaWings in American Le Mans Series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/panoz-wants-to-race-fields-of-deltawings-in-american-le-mans-ser/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/panoz-wants-to-race-fields-of-deltawings-in-american-le-mans-ser/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/panoz-wants-to-race-fields-of-deltawings-in-american-le-mans-ser/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Nissan DeltaWing

In pretty much any racing series you go to, the cars tend to progress in an evolutionary, not revolutionary fashion. This year's crop of Formula One cars, for example, may have those ungainly stepped noses, but they otherwise look pretty much the same as last year's cars, which looked mostly the same as the cars the year before and the year before that, and so on and so forth. The same could be generally said of Indy, Le Mans prototypes...even stock cars. The DeltaWing project, however, is another story altogether.

Designed and developed by an alliance of some of the biggest names in racing and recently backed by Nissan, the DeltaWing represents a comprehensive rethink of what form a race car can and should take. The idea was originally fielded as a proposal for the new IndyCar chassis, but that series' organizers went once again for something much more conventional. So the brain trust behind the project adapted it for endurance racing and are taking it to Le Mans this year.

But surely they didn't put all that work into it just to race it once - outside the classifications as a demonstration only - did they? Not if Don Panoz has anything to say about it. One of the partners in the DeltaWing project and the father of the racing car manufacturer that bears his name, Panoz hopes to find a way to race the DeltaWing in the American Le Mans Series which he essentially founded.

A way to equalize its performance with either the LMP1 or LMP2 classes would need to be found with the IMSA and the FIA, but considering how it was adapted from an IndyCar proposal to a Le Mans racer, the platform seems pretty flexible. But Panoz doesn't want to race just one. Sure, a solitary entry in the full ALMS calendar would be a great start, but Panoz reportedly envisions assembling a quantity of DeltaWings at his factory in Georgia that has over the years built cars for Indy, Champ Cars, Superleague Formula and of course Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series.

Just how many remains to be seen, but with powerhouses like Panoz, Nissan, Highcroft, Chip Ganassi and Dan Gurney on board, we would be very surprised if the DeltaWing ran just the once.

Panoz wants to race fields of DeltaWings in American Le Mans Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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