The group has received an invitation from Le Mans 24 Hour race organizers, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to contest the 2012 race as an additional 56th entry.

The 56th place on the grid is reserved for a technologically innovative car to participate “outside the classifications” – a vehicle showcasing new applications and unique technologies previously unseen in the world’s greatest endurance race.

While racing cars have traditionally strived for increased performance through gains in horsepower and aerodynamic downforce, the DeltaWing concept concentrates on exploiting efficiency gains found outside contemporary regulations to reduce fuel consumption without reducing performance. The new and experimental car is targeting

competitive performance with only half the horsepower of the outright contenders. It does this through halving the amount of aerodynamic drag of traditional racing cars as well as a similar reduction in weight.

The Project 56 group is in discussion with engine partners to provide a 1.6-liter turbocharged power plant for the project – producing approximately 300 horsepower.

The car will be unlike any previously seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car features a slender nose with extremely narrow front track – minimizing the horsepower required to push the car to speeds of 200mph around the 8.5 mile circuit.

Eliminating the use of traditional wings, downforce for the DeltaWing is generated solely beneath the car by the contoured underbody.

The DeltaWing selection was revealed today at the ACO’s annual press conference coinciding with this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans event.

Construction of the new machine will begin next month at Gurney’s California facility.

The Highcroft Racing team will begin track testing of the new car later this year.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest and most famous endurance race. First held in 1923, the event has attracted the world’s finest automotive manufacturers and drivers.

Highcroft contested the race for the first time in 2010 while Gurney won the race in 1967 aboard a Ford GT40 with AJ Foyt – famously spraying champagne on the podium for the first time to kick start a now world-renowned tradition.

“We’re talking

about a completely

different idea – a

car that goes the

same speed with

half the weight, half

the drag, half the

power, and half the

fuel consumption.

It’s more efficient,

more relevant, and

more cost effective

for the teams to

run.”

BEN BOWLBY

• DELTAWING

DESIGNER

ome of the biggest names in American motorsport have joined forces for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans to showcase a unique concept demonstrating extreme performance with half the weight and horsepower of a traditional racing car. The Project 56 group brings together the design talents of DeltaWing Racing Cars LLC; the manufacturing capabilities of All American Racers - the company owned by 1967 Le Mans winner and American racing legend Dan Gurney; and back-to-back American Le Mans Series championship winning racing team, Highcroft Racing. American Le Mans Series founder Dr. Don Panoz has also joined the project as a key advisor.

DELTAWING FOR 2012 LE MANS

24 HOUR

MEDIA KIT

ENGLISH

KEY TECHNICAL FEATURES

• Engine and transmission are “non-stressed members” in the chassis structural design which allows the installation of a wide variety of lightweight powertrains.

• The car will likely feature a 4 cylinder 1600cc liquid intercooled turbocharged engine that will produce approximately 300 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and weigh 70kg.

• Transmission is a 5 speed plus reverse longitudinal design with electrical sequential paddle shift actuation.

• The differential features an efficient variable torque steer/differential speed-controlled planetary final drive reduction layout with the entire transmission weighing only 33kg.

• Vehicle weight distribution is necessarily more rearward than traditionally seen with 72.5% of the mass between the wide track larger rear tires.

• 76% of the aerodynamic downforce acts on the rear of the car which has a lift to drag ratio of >5.0.

• Rear wheel drive coupled with the rearward weight and aerodynamic distributions greatly enhances inline acceleration capability.

• Unique amongst today’s racing cars, more than 50% of the vehicle’s braking force is generated behind the center of gravity giving a dynamically stable response.

• 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.

• Advanced computer modeling of structures, impact energy management, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics and tires has been used to develop the DeltaWing design.

• Driver position, restraint layout and energy absorbing structures designed to meet the latest occupant survival criteria.

DELTAWINGTECH TALK

“The DeltaWing

concept has

enormous potential

and we are thrilled

and delighted to

have the opportunity

to showcase its

possibilities at

the most famous

endurance race in

the world. The

efficiencies that this

car demonstrates is

really what the 24

Hours of Le Mans is

all about.”

DUNCAN DAYTON

• OWNER,

HIGHCROFT

RACING

Weight: 475kg

Horsepower: 300 BHP

Wheelbase: 2.9 m

Aero drag: Cd 0.24

Front track: 0.6m

Rear track: 1.7m

Length: 4.65m

Width: 2.00m

Height: 1.03m

Brakes: Carbon pads

& discs

Fuel capacity: 40 liters

Chassis: lightweight

composite

Front tire: 4.0/23.0 R15

Rear tire: 12.5/24.5 R15

Weight distribution:

Front: 27.5%

Rear: 72.5%

SP

ECIF

ICA

TIO

NS

“To achieve the dramatically reduced carbon footprint we have looked at ways to reduce weight and drag, as well as the total number of components required to build the car.

“The car has a three-point layout with the narrow front and wide rear track – as opposed to the rectangular layout of contemporary racing cars.

“We need much less chassis torsional stiffness for handling performance so we don’t need to use such stiff and brittle materials in the chassis. We can use light, tough and energy absorbing materials instead.

“What is particularly impressive is the fact the ACO decided to create the 56th entry where a car that is outside

the regulations is invited to participate to showcase an even greater diversity of automotive engineering concepts.

“The 56th entry is really a golden opportunity for us because it gives us the chance to make a step change and “race” a car that doesn’t comply with the existing rule book.

“We really have to applaud the ACO for having the foresight to create this opportunity for an entry like ours. We believe this is a true automotive innovation which could be the catalyst for changing the way people look at not only racing car design, but automotive design as a whole.”

BEN BOWLBY

DeltaWing Racing Cars• Former chief designer at Lola

Cars• During his time at Lola, he

designed Champ Cars, European and Nippon F3000, SR1, SR2, LMP 675 sports cars and BTCC touring cars

• Joined Chip Ganassi Racing as Technical Director in 2003

• Commenced the DeltaWing concept in January 2009

“We can use light, tough and energy absorbing

materials instead”

“To take a car like this with a totally innovative design to Le Mans and run before a worldwide television audience of more than 600 million people is an incredible story.

“This will be the first legitimate test with 55 other cars on the track – it will be a huge challenge but one that we are looking forward to.

“The project represents a unique opportunity for all automotive industry sectors; the OEMs and suppliers, whether it be engines, drivetrains, lubricant and fuel companies, tire manufactures – it is such an innovative concept that it provides an incredible

platform for them to market and prove their capabilities.

“In my opinion, it has the potential to be one of the most significant developments in motor racing in 50 years. It is so new and exciting, and such an interesting departure from the traditional race car development path – it is highly relevant to the future.

“Given that the world is concentrating on efficiency and green technologies in an attempt to achieve sustainability, this project in my opinion will help promote the direction that is being adopted throughout the entire automotive industry.”

DUNCANDAYTON

Highcroft Racing• Back-to-back ALMS Champions,

2009 & 2010• Former factory team for Honda

Performance Development• Has built a proven sports car

development team with world-class experience

• Highly-respected historic competitor – a record 10-time winner at the bi-annual Monaco historic event

“This represents a unique opportunity for all automotive industry

sectors”

DANGURNEYAll American Racers

• 1967 Le Mans winner• Four F1 victories, including 1967

Belgian GP in his own Eagle Gurney-Weslake V-12, designed & built by AAR, plus three non-Championship events

• His team won 78 races, (including the Indy 500, Sebring twice, Daytona 24) and eight Championships, all with Eagles designed and built at AAR

“The combination of proven items that make up the character and capabilities of the DeltaWing car make it an extremely exciting project.

“It weighs half as much current cars, it burns half as much fuel, uses much less tire and goes the same speed because of the exceptional aerodynamics and low drag.

“Almost every aspect of the car is really basic engineering but the combination of the total package should be astoundingly good.

“After looking at the project and the technical aspects of the car I was asked would we like to build it.

“I didn’t hesitate for a moment – my response was absolutely yes.

“I have a lot of curiosity and when I first discussed this car with Ben Bowlby I listened closely and tried to shoot holes in what he was saying but I quickly found I wasn’t able to. I believe the targets and predictions are valid.

“It has been a long time since I have been to Le Mans – in fact, the last time I was there for the race I won with AJ Foyt in the Ford GT40.

“Once again the French are leading the global charge for efficient automobiles as they have done so often in the past.”

“The combination of the total package should be

astoundingly good”

DON PANOZ

ALMS Founder• Founded the American Le Mans

Series in 1999• The Panoz marque has

won multiple races and championships in the LMP1 class and took the GT class win at the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans.

• Founder Elan Motorsport Technologies - 3-time Indy 500 winner

“I am extremely proud of the progress that the ACO and the ALMS have made in showcasing sportscar racing as the global leader in green racing. The ACO has proven itself to be a leader in encouraging manufacturers to investigate new technologies to tackle the world’s greatest endurance race.

“Their decision to encourage this forward thinking through the creation of “Garage 56” has been the inspiration and catalyst to bring together some of the biggest names in US motorsport.

“I am delighted to play a role in bringing this project to life as I believe

it is one of the most important technical innovations and philosophies displayed in the sport for many years.

“I am also thrilled that the bodywork of the DeltaWing car will utilize R.E.A.M.S. - Recycle Energy Absorbing Matrix System – the same system debuted on the Panoz Abruzzi earlier this year at Sebring.

“This is a multi-layer composite system that is lighter than carbon fiber, equally strong and can be recycled.

“This entire project is incredibly exciting and I am sure the fans will be eagerly awaiting the chance to see the car in action at Le Mans in 2012.”

“I am delighted to play a role in bringing this

project to life”

“In 2010 the ACO Sporting Committee decided to create the garage #56 to promote new technologies. When the ACO Management met the representative of the Delta Wing project everybody thought immediately that it would be a high quality project for Le Mans Experimental entry in 2012.

“The interest of this project is based on the optimization of all factors that have an impact of global energy consumption and efficiency of the car : weight, power, drag.

“The ACO want to give the opportunity to evaluate each technology, and this project shows that ahead of hybrid, bio fuel or electric technology - we can explore other ways to improve efficiency.”

VINCENT BEAUMESNILDirecteur Sports - Automobile Club L‘Ouest

« En 2010, le Comité sportif de l’ACO a décidé de créer le “garage n°56” pour promouvoir les nouvelles technologies. Lorsque le management de l’ACO a rencontré les représentants du projet Delta Wing à Petit Le Mans, tout le monde a pensé que ce serait un très bon projet pour une invitation Le Mans Experimental en 2012.

L’intérêt de ce projet est basé sur l’optimisation de tous les facteurs impactant la consommation d’énergie au sens gloabal et l’efficacité de la voiture : poids, puissance, traînée aéro.

L’ACO veut donner l’opportunité d’évaluer chaque technologie, et ce projet démontre qu’au-delà de l’hybride, du bio-carburant ou de la technologie électrique, on peut explorer d’autres voies pour améliorer l’efficacité. »

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Featuring Duncan Dayton, Dan Gurney and Ben Bowlby