Leading-Edge Motorsport Technology Since 1990 May 20131Vol23 No5 1www.racecar-engineering.com 1 UK £5.50 1 US $13.50 BMW Z4 GTE How the American Le Mans Series contender evolved 5 0 8 9 0 9 0 1 VW Polo WRC Aero effects IndyCar engines 1 6 9 Volkswagen’s guided tour Simon McBeath examines F1 technology leads to 0 7 of its latest rally contender the effective use of airfl ow 300 bar direct injection 7 9 WorldMags.net traordinary Fluid Delivery Made in U.S.A. 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Simon McBeath takes an in-depth look at airflow – and how to make the best use of it FEATURES 58 DeltaWing engine Elan’s hastily developed interim powerplant 14 VW Polo WRC 62 Composites Volkswagen guides us through its new WRC challenger With carbon fibre still only within reach of top-level 25 IndyCar engines manufacturers, new solutions are emerging While fuel companies target 500 bar pressure for Formula 1, 71 Danny Nowlan IndyCar is using the technology to hit its own targets What should be the DeltaWing legacy? 30 The Designers – Gordon Coppuck 77 Tech discussion The life and times of McLaren’s legendary former designer Williams front hub under discussion, plus: how Formula 1 2014 can make best use of the intercooler BUSINESS NEWS 83 Tech update Aston Martin says that 30 per cent of the GTE V8 Vantage is 84 Industry news new. We look at what they have changed, and why Formula 1 sponsorship scene in recovery, Nismo opens new Yokohama HQ, Sinter Formula Ford seen 90 Racecar people Clampdown on F1 masseuse misuse, UK government boost to motorsport, HRTs sold for scrap 95 New products Hewland transmissions, ratchet wrenches, Jenvey throttle bodies, Altair’s latest connector 98 Bump stop Subscribe to Racecar Engineering – find the best offers online www.racecar-engineering.com Contact us with your comments and views on @RacecarEd or on Facebook.com/RacecarEngineering WorldMags.net May 2013 @ www.racecar-engineering.com 3 WorldMags.net WorldMags.net STRAIGHTWorldMags.net TALK – RICARDO DIVILA Batteries not included It’s only a matter of time until electric trumps petrol. But we’re not there yet… ene Cernan has the than chemical batteries and Electricity can be generated in action. It’s man taming the unofficial lunar speed electric motors, because of in several ways: hydroelectric, monster, and winning through the Grecord with the electric the superior cost/performance wind, nuclear, geothermal and smart use of the Carnot cycle. Will Lunar Roving Vehicle chassis ratio that hydrocarbon fuels not excluding hydrocarbon fuels. Icarus make it, running so close to 03 at 11.2mph (18.0km/h), currently provide. This situation Maybe hydrogen-powered cars the edge of meltdown? actually above its design speed will likely remain true for at will be the future, be it fuel-cell Alas, electricity has none of of 8mph (13km/h). On Earth, least another 20 or 30 years. technology or internal combustion, this charm. It’s too sophisticated it is a bit higher – 307.6mph The need for an alternate power as the probably in-car storage and elegant, with electromagnetic (495.14km/h) for electric-powered source is a environment-driven challenge for hydrogen will be fields being too extrasensory cars, so obviously the idea of political need. solved way before we see electric compared to man’s primitive needs electric racing cars beckons, The technological boost cars with a useful range. of facing the bleeding obvious in the name of green image of reluctance motors and new So much for the general, but monstrosity of heat and loudness. and world salvation, which will battery types will improve this what about the particular case Don’t get me wrong – I love nudge manufacturers towards ratio, but let us be frank about of racing? Batteries will have to disruptive technologies, whether alternative renewable and green it – any use in motor racing will be improve by an order of magnitude in life, computers or cars. Anything energy sources. rules driven, much as diesel and before they weigh acceptable that shakes the traditional slothful Manufacturers are investing into hybrids are today in endurance values and have credible range. ‘same old, same old’ with a the future production of millions different slant is worthwhile. That’s of electric cars, on one hand, and why the electric car and plug-in hybrids on the other, such as the hybrid technology will revive a Toyota Prius hybrid car, first sold in boring industry, but not necessarily 1997. By October 2012, the Prius racing – it has other problems. The had reached sales of 4.6 million, introduction of hybrid, electrical or 2 million of them in Japan, cutting hydrogen racing cars have only the 30 million tons of CO2 and saving interest of the car manufacturers 11 million litres of petrol. and of the engineers that will work There is a long way to go on them – but probably not of the still, as the daily consumption in Electric is invigorating the consumer market, but racing could be another matter public that should watch it. the US alone is upwards of 10 F1 cars look the way they million barrels of oil per day for racing. It provides manufacturers In order to make an electrical do due to regulations, just as motorcars. Hybrid technology an excuse to go racing to reap racing series attractive as a electric automobiles are a product is a method of improving fuel public perception kudos, keeps spectator sport, the rules would of government regulations that efficiency mainly through the teams in business, and might just need to be wide open. This would distort market economics for recuperation of braking energy, provide the drive to improve the permit high levels of technological a good cause. The way trends worth it to eke out our energy technology rapidly. development and allow the cars are going, battery cost and needs with less pollution, but it’s And there is a fundamental to be very fast, as Formula 1 once performance should improve to the not a game-changer. problem with electric engines, as was, which was why it garnered level necessary for it to compete We constantly form unjustified electricity is not an energy source a wide audience. The downside with hydrocarbon fuels. We have expectations about the future. – it is a means of transmitting (or would be the same problem that mentioned hybrids at the start. To what extent can we trust storing) energy. Electrical town F1 ran into: rapidly escalating and So there you have it. An predictions? If the future is less cars shift the pollution generated unsustainable costs. opinionated, provocative prediction predictable than we imagine, upstream, outside towns, and Personally, I have my doubts and about as comfortable as a how do we plan for it? I am not induction-powered cars without about electric car racing, not least wire-wool jockstrap, dependent wanting to frame the discussion batteries can be a coming because it would also be too quiet on economics, geopolitics, and in terms of Hume’s Problem of technology, possibly showcased in – one would not feel the same therefore a science of complex, Induction. (He argued that belief an inductive track. This would be adrenaline rush from the screech nonlinear systems – systems that that the future will be like the cheaper to implement than redoing of tyres. The nerve in motor are chaotic in the technical sense, past is grounded neither in the road network – a craft known racing is in the hysterical scream and not susceptible to detailed experience nor reason, expressing since 1894 – when Nikola Tesla of 18,000rpm through tuned long-run forecasts. scepticism at our ability to predict demonstrated resonant inductive exhaust pipes, engines expiring One can only say, ‘Gentlemen, the future.) I shall endeavour coupling also known as ‘electro- in flames or clouds of smoke – the plug your batteries’, and quote to pull back the curtain… dynamic induction’. visceral impact of thermodynamics Jane Austen: ‘Let other