23Racer

A great article in the June 2007 Race Car Engineering. It basicly goes into an in-depth breakdown of the Rotary ALMS P2 effort and describes why it failed and next steps.

I found it very refreshing to hear the project failure causes were the same in corporate motorsport as in corporate business. For those of you too lazy or cheap to buy the issue the causes are as follows:

1) Project kicked off too late by Mazda so the effort was playing catch up from the beginning.

2) Due to the lateness of the project launch they had to use an off-the-shelf LMP1 Courage chassis and cobble together the installation. Nothing was optimum cooling, chassis length, suspension geometry for tire size, aero and the car was as heavy as an LMP1 car and they were running in LMP2. 275 kgs heavy.

3) No actual development on race rotaries for over 15 years, so technology was really old. Engine based on peri port 717 motor from early 90's. No Renesis technology was actually used. Old tech all the way. No stock 20B parts were used.

4) Team jumped through 4 engine suppliers in 2 years so no continuity in development program.

5) ALMS tried to help team by increasing the airflow restrictor to a diameter that functionally offered no restriction to airflow and increased fuel capacity to allow team to carry more fuel than any other car.

6) Target HP and Torque for 2007 Season was 550 HP and 450 lb/ft. Only way to get there was with a Turbo either rotary or piston, but the only way they were going to get on track this season based on time frame was piston. A turbo rotary was not supported by Mazda Marketing.

7) Moves into the series by Porsche and Honda forced hand in moving to a piston engine to get results NOW!!!!!

All in all a great read and well worth getting by any rotary fan to understand limitations of the rotary in racing and the concerns any team has in trying to compete.

Eric

Alak

iTrader: (9)

Competition is tough these days, especially with a fierce competitor like Honda in the ring.

Perhaps they will find a way back to rotary.

01Racing

I dont care, I'm way more interested in Mazda's Nextel Cup program!

Neo

iTrader: (4)

Nextel Cup?!?! Please tell me they're not entering NASCAR???

Thanks for the info 23Racer. There's always a reason why they go with a specific package.

23Racer

Haven't you heard, NASCAR is reacting to the criticism that NEXTEL Cup is only a manufactured WWE style show, with the majority of the results predestined by completely going to a Showroom Stock style series. If you are a car company and your car has 4 doors, you are in. Size of car and engine doesn't matter, what end is pushing or pulling the car doesn't matter.

ALL YOU NEED IS MONEY BABY!!!!! This is the newly revealed NASCAR Creed. Actually it is no different than the older creed, it is just going to be more open. If you are a car manufacturer and want to homologate your car and aero package it is going to be a flat $25 million US. No manufacturer money is allowed to trickle down to the teams. All teams are expected to be privateers and cars have to be bought off the showroom floor.

All cars have to run on the present wheel and tire package and the tub, suspension pickup points and ECU has to be stock. All other mods are allowed. Turbos will be allowed. Just think of World Challenge on ovals. Plan is for a 2010 launch and that is why Ford is looking at a new 4 door Mustang or Crown Vic, GM has numerous V8 FWD cars and is looking at bringing back the Caprice and Impala. Chrysler looks to be able to dominate with the Hemi Charger. Asian and Euro cars will be able to run but be ready to see a vary different grid.

This information was supplied to me (including a rough working copy of the rules) by a very close friend well known in motorsports circles, Billy Madrid.

Eric

01Racing

Why do you think the RX-8 is a 4door and hasent been scrapped yet?

HEVNSNT

iTrader: (3)

If this is all true. I think I might actually pay some attention to nascar.