why left handed
Discussion
Typically because the manufacturers of the racing cars are european, like Porsche and Renault. Similarly, a number of the S2000 cars originate from WTCC.
With FWD cars I once heard that it was also due to most transverse engines being mounted on the right with the gearbox on the left to provide better weight distribution for home markets (which are LHD), but I believe the Hondas have the same arrangement and are RHD so presumably there's an engineering decision in there somewhere.
Logically one would think that with the majority of circuits being clockwise that a RHD car would be beneficial.
With FWD cars I once heard that it was also due to most transverse engines being mounted on the right with the gearbox on the left to provide better weight distribution for home markets (which are LHD), but I believe the Hondas have the same arrangement and are RHD so presumably there's an engineering decision in there somewhere.
Logically one would think that with the majority of circuits being clockwise that a RHD car would be beneficial.
The Wookie said:
Logically one would think that with the majority of circuits being clockwise that a RHD car would be beneficial.
I've always thought that too. Especially as being on the right hand side of the car gives a better view up the inside on a track with mostly right-handers.doogz said:
Older ones didn't. My mates CRX had the gearbox mounted on the offside of the engine, and as I understand it, the reasoning was as you describe. I think my B20 engined Prelude was the same.
They did, but not the touring car for some reason, either the Honda engines have changed orientation or the race cars have been forced to by the gearbox:
Although worth noting how central the driver's seat is in that shot, which says a lot.
I've asked this before and was told:
Even with highly modified race cars the chassis is based on or modified from a standard production line chassis. These will have been designed from the outset to be ether LHD or RHD usually based on thier home market or thier biggest market in 90% of cases this means LHD (Jap cars being the obvious exception)
When a car designed LHD is made RHD there are always compromises made in terms of balance, or route of the stearing or any one of a hundred aspects which might not be noticeable in a road car, can mean lost tenths in a race car so they tend to stick to the original design.
Even with highly modified race cars the chassis is based on or modified from a standard production line chassis. These will have been designed from the outset to be ether LHD or RHD usually based on thier home market or thier biggest market in 90% of cases this means LHD (Jap cars being the obvious exception)
When a car designed LHD is made RHD there are always compromises made in terms of balance, or route of the stearing or any one of a hundred aspects which might not be noticeable in a road car, can mean lost tenths in a race car so they tend to stick to the original design.
Edited by P-Jay on Wednesday 24th October 10:29
Surely it's just economies of scale and the potential market for the cars? For example, the vast majority of Clio Cup, Porsche Cup and indeed Touring Cars will be developed for LHD markets and it would not be economically viable to engineer specific RHD parts e.g. steering rack, pedal box, dashboard for a small market of RHD cars. Also, by all cars being LHD it means that the market for cars used in the UK is wider.
Agrispeed said:
Has anyone ever noticed that most endurance cars are RHD? I think It may be to do with the pits, but I'm not sure. 
where the car is full bespoke i.e. endurance car, they tend to go RHD as that gives the driver the best view of the apex on most circuits.most production based racers are LHD as thats where the market for the production car is based
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