RE: Deltawing sent flying
Discussion
zebedee said:
hunt_the_fox said:
I don't think that was correcting an out of control car, I've looked at that footage and it looks to me like a deliberate move to the right before impact.
Nope, we've all watched the footage too! I watch an awful lot of GT racing every year and that Porsche took a bounce on the kerb that threw it out of shape. 48-49s he has opposite lock on, he isn't wanting to move right at all. Deplorable. Would like to hear the driver's comments.
No professional driver would risk loss of control, instead of going 2-wheels off, no matter what was said in the driver's meeting. Novice driver might "freak out" at the bridge, if loss of control was the issue. I don't think that's the case.
I think the #34 Porsche simply didn't see the DWing on his way to the pits, even though the DWing followed the #34 Green Hornet through two corners and was all over his mirrors. Possibly pulling right to let the "seen" LMP get by. Next is a right turn, so the preferred line is left side. Any loss of control is due to a startled driver.
Put a pulsating headlamp on the DWing, ala motorcycle, so novice drivers that don't use their mirrors can get a clue. Or, put orange whip antenna flags on it (sarcasm).
Lesson learned for #34, but I would suspend the youngster for the race. Also, require an optometrist visit. If it was loss of control, perhaps a car control clinic and a few junior races without incident are requisite.
No professional driver would risk loss of control, instead of going 2-wheels off, no matter what was said in the driver's meeting. Novice driver might "freak out" at the bridge, if loss of control was the issue. I don't think that's the case.
I think the #34 Porsche simply didn't see the DWing on his way to the pits, even though the DWing followed the #34 Green Hornet through two corners and was all over his mirrors. Possibly pulling right to let the "seen" LMP get by. Next is a right turn, so the preferred line is left side. Any loss of control is due to a startled driver.
Put a pulsating headlamp on the DWing, ala motorcycle, so novice drivers that don't use their mirrors can get a clue. Or, put orange whip antenna flags on it (sarcasm).
Lesson learned for #34, but I would suspend the youngster for the race. Also, require an optometrist visit. If it was loss of control, perhaps a car control clinic and a few junior races without incident are requisite.
Munter said:
It's ok Wookie. You don't drive it any more. You can let the excuses about the 911 go now. 
Thank you Seriosuly though, the only time I ever did something that was on my very first go in one in a testing session, too heavy footed out of the old Russel Chicane at Snett. I thumped the kerbs on the outside, felt the back start to step out, thought 'I've got this, I'll keep my foot in', went to wind on armfuls of lock and managed about 3 quarters of a turn before I thumped the lock stops and ended up facing the wrong way on the inside of the corner. Thankfully it was all at low speed!
I tended to more often do the other classic of 's
t, braked too late, I can still make it', only for the front to turn in while the back end carries on in a dead straight line!
and no one will get flagged
masermartin said:
dukebox9reg said:
the porsche driver lost control on the kerb, he didnt purposely steer into him
I disagree, I think the Porsche was making a move to come into the pits. Just didn't see the DW. There does seem to be a bit of a problem when it comes to visibility for the DW - not sure there's much that can be done about that though?
Seriously, its much smaller than the Porsche and there are other hard to see out of GT cars competing. Paint it red or something.
zebedee said:
hunt_the_fox said:
I don't think that was correcting an out of control car, I've looked at that footage and it looks to me like a deliberate move to the right before impact.
Nope, we've all watched the footage too! I watch an awful lot of GT racing every year and that Porsche took a bounce on the kerb that threw it out of shape. 48-49s he has opposite lock on, he isn't wanting to move right at all. Obviously the reaction of the Nissan driver would push anyone viewing this for the first time to blame the Porsche until they'd seen a slow-mo replay.
Racing incident. Sad, but true.
The Wookie said:
Munter said:
It's ok Wookie. You don't drive it any more. You can let the excuses about the 911 go now.
Thank you Seriosuly though, the only time I ever did something that was on my very first go in one in a testing session, too heavy footed out of the old Russel Chicane at Snett. I thumped the kerbs on the outside, felt the back start to step out, thought 'I've got this, I'll keep my foot in', went to wind on armfuls of lock and managed about 3 quarters of a turn before I thumped the lock stops and ended up facing the wrong way on the inside of the corner. Thankfully it was all at low speed!
I tended to more often do the other classic of 's
t, braked too late, I can still make it', only for the front to turn in while the back end carries on in a dead straight line!but just looking at the footage it seems to me that the drift across is a lot smoother and less snappy than a correction bump off the kerb where you would see the car getting a little out of shape, I don't see that.
hunt_the_fox said:
but just looking at the footage it seems to me that the drift across is a lot smoother and less snappy than a correction bump off the kerb where you would see the car getting a little out of shape, I don't see that.
I look at it and see the car start to yaw while it's on the kerbs (could be the rear tyres 'floating' on the rough kerbs or just a lack of traction on the dirt), mainly because the driver has still got a bit of right hand lock on as he's understeered off. The yaw then builds up, he realises that it's let go a bit too late and only starts to apply opposite lock as he's already heading back towards the track, by which time he's already pointing at the Nissan.Of course, all IMHO
Edited to make a bit more sense!
Edited by The Wookie on Thursday 18th October 15:42
It was the same here as it was at Le Mans - the 'other' car did not 'see' the DW. It appears that the Porsche did have a dab of oppo on the exit (as seen on the slo-mo), but he was over a car's width to the right of the line, even with a quick twitch. Yes, the DW needs to be more visible with colour and/or lights. I would expect with the telemetry these days, car position could be used to warn the 'other' driver, but it would never be quick enough to avoid an incident such as this. I expect that the configuration of the car means it will turn over more readily, instead of sliding, but only when provoked!
Edited by vtecblack on Thursday 18th October 15:55
will261058 said:
Irrespective of previous smart arse post attempting to predict the tone of the remainder it remains likely that had the DW had a wider stance at the front it would have been more resistant to rolling in the way it did!
That's what I said.On another note, there must be a limit on how tall you can be to drive one of these? Much like an F1 car, if you don't fit, you don't fit, tough.
Had a quick look at this- here is an interview with the driver of the Nissan who was at the scene of the accident and he didn't think that the Porsche was out of control, he thought that the driver was moving to the apex and didn't see him...
http://www.deltawingracing.com/news/2012/10/17/gun...
http://www.deltawingracing.com/news/2012/10/17/gun...
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