In the middle of the night in the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans, the leading no.7 Audi R8 suffered a rear left puncture. By the time it had reached the pits and been inspected, one of the mechanics noticed some excessive play in the suspension.
What happened in the following six minutes was like a choreographed display. The team of mechanics removed the rear bodywork and underfloor diffuser, disconnected oil, brake and hydraulic fluid lines, removed the gearbox (complete with rear suspension and brakes), fitted a new gearbox and suspension assembly, put the rest back together and set the car back down the pit lane.
It was very clear to see this was a repair that had been anticipated in the car’s development, and rehearsed intensely by the team. It was obviously designed around the fact it is quicker to replace a whole sub-assembly than an individual suspension component.
This is but a quick glimpse into the preparation and rehearsal that goes into a 24-hour race entry, and highlights the level of professionalism and desire to win that teams bring to the competition.
Endurance racing brings a whole new dimension to competition. If you suffer a puncture or mechanical failure in sprint championships such as DTM or F1, at best you lose the race, at worst it’s a retirement. In a 24-hour race, you might still stand a chance.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2021 من Racecar Engineering.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة January 2021 من Racecar Engineering.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Talk the torque
More thoughts on in-wheel motors and their effects on twisting force
Rolling about
An explanation of the limitations of a previous load transfer article, bringing jacking forces into the mix
F1 breaks schedule records
The FIA has confirmed no fewer than 23 races on the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship schedule, the highest number of grands prix ever to be held in a single season, and that has led to criticism from some teams that will be on the road for eight months.
Under pressure
Toyota may have finished first and second at Le Mans this year, but the effort required to overcome a fuel delivery problem and finish with both cars was Herculean
Physics at work
Dutch company, Intrax, offers Racecar Engineering an insight into the technologies it employs to optimise its suspension products
Williams' 2030 ambition
Williams Racing has committed to becoming climate positive by 2030 as part of an all-new sustainability strategy.
Diff'rent strokes
Racecar looks at the different types of mechanical differential, their benefits and limitations
Das Boot
A curious Twitter exchange fired up a unique, hydrogen-powered, cross-country project that will contest the Baja 1000 in November 2022
Air born
Every racecar engineer's dream is a blank sheet of paper design. When Hoonigan and Subaru approached Vermont Sportscars about building the next generation of Gymkhana racer, that's just what the company was given
Remote control
Called variously ‘virtual garages’, ‘mission control’ or ‘race support rooms’ is the future of race engineering sitting in the warm back at HQ?