Acura/HPD's future plans

[Japanese Samurai]

According to Sports-carrasing.net,
It seems that a certain HPD (LMP1) user has offered to Dome.
They seem to have a problem in the manufacturing accuracy of the monocoque of ARX-03a.
http://www.sports-carracing.net/2012...tm#120708news1

[ger80]

Is it talking about carbon fiber delaminations? Why dont they buy Oreca monocoques then?

[Japanese Samurai]

Originally Posted by ger80

Is it talking about carbon fiber delaminations? Why dont they buy Oreca monocoques then?

Yes.
Sports-carracing.net says that ARX-03a cannot cope with it by monocoque exchange because of big front tire.

[pedrocor]

Originally Posted by ger80

Is it talking about carbon fiber delaminations? Why dont they buy Oreca monocoques then?

As far as I know, the development lead to chassis changes that made the chassis too modified from Courage LC75, that started do be produced by Wirth Research.

[alexkiller8]

arx01a/b/c/d used courage derivated chassis, that even if marked HPD were compatible with oreca/courage ones (the RML that was using an arx01d asked an oreca chassis to rebuild their car after spa 2011 accident). While arx01e and arx-03a use chassis developed by wirth research, for us that don't work in motorsport is impossible to know how much these new chassis are similiar or different from the original courage ones.

[gwyllion]

According to http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsjan12.html the Courage LC75 tub and the HPD ARX-03 tub only differ in small details.

The tub is effectively identical to the Oreca manufactured ARX-01 series monocoque, and that's to be expected. We understand the new Wirth Research designed tub slots straight into the ARX-01g LMP2 and that the suspension pickup points are the same on the -03b as on the -01g.

[The Badger]

So , after all these years , its a Courage after all ..... Glad , thats sorted !!!

[alexkiller8]

if you just think that in lmp2 grid, all the oreca03, the arx-03b and the morgan in different ways and and measure can be linked to courage... you can just understand how much strong is the courage "ghost" presence in motorsport.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by ger80

Is it talking about carbon fiber delaminations? Why dont they buy Oreca monocoques then?

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Yes.
Sports-carracing.net says that ARX-03a cannot cope with it by monocoque exchange because of big front tire.

Originally Posted by pedrocor

As far as I know, the development lead to chassis changes that made the chassis too modified from Courage LC75, that started do be produced by Wirth Research.

In addition. Oreca told HPD that they were not going to sell/make them carbon fiber tubs anymore. Its was in there competitive interest. HPD effectively makes an Oreca challenge in the P2. Oreca did not like this and effectively told HPD to take a hike...HPD responded by finally doing there own tubs.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by The Badger

So , after all these years , its a Courage after all ..... Glad , thats sorted !!!

That doesnt change anything. I can't tell if you making a jab at HPD but there cars are significantly faster than any Courage LC75 could have ever been.

[pedrocor]

Originally Posted by Articus

That doesnt change anything. I can't tell if you making a jab at HPD but there cars are significantly faster than any Courage LC75 could have ever been.

Pescarolo 01/Oak, HPDs, Orecas, all based in Courage chassis, C60 in the first case, LC75 in the second and LC70 the third, the main difference the weight, as LC75 was built much lighter to race in LMP2, with a minimum weight about 750kg or something, 150kg lighter then LMP1s like C60 or LC70.

Every one of them significantly evolved, Oreca and HPD don't look an Courage car anymore.

Of course Oreca bought Courage Compétition back in 2007.

[gwyllion]

The Courage LC70 and LC75, the Oreca 01, 03 and FLM09 and the HPD ARX-01 all use an identical monocoque.

[lms]

http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/..._12071110.html

says wirth needs financial assistance to build a coupe for 2014, and speculation about a honda effort in wec with zytek hybrid system and wirth built chassis

[TF110]

Basically the coupe plans he had are scrapped because it was planned for the current rules. So he's need funding to start over again for a car of 2014 regs. Hopefully it does come from Honda.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by lms

http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/..._12071110.html

says wirth needs financial assistance to build a coupe for 2014, and speculation about a honda effort in wec with zytek hybrid system and wirth built chassis

Best part of the article is when my browser translates the sentence regarding Lotus:

the company has sprung from Greding with an extensive booklet looking for a wife.

Priceless!

[gwyllion]

John Dagys reports that the 2013 HPD LMP1 car (designated ARX-03c?) will feature wide front tyres.

Stepney confirmed JRM’s program would see the continuation of the HPD ARX-03a package, although with some upgrades, including the use of full-size front tires, which the car was originally designed for.

source: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...-wec-notebook/

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

John Dagys reports that the 2013 HPD LMP1 car (designated ARX-03c?) will feature wide front tyres.
source: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...-wec-notebook/

More importantly, JRM is likely to run 2 of them!

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

More importantly, JRM is likely to run 2 of them!

But still just a customer deal or getting closer to ALMS-Acura years?

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by deggis

But still just a customer deal or getting closer to ALMS-Acura years?

A customer but maybe with a little more support? It has to be tough for Honda to watch the glory Toyota is getting in Fuji this weekend and from the victory in Brazil.

[JAG__]

Even without factory support you do wonder where HPD could be if they added the missing pieces to their program, wide fronts, coupe and hybrid.

“We've got some bigger plans hopefully that will take us into 2014 and 2015. Things are falling into shape.”

I wonder if those plans are with HPD too, perhaps HPD are making a second chassis available for '13, can't see JRM wanting to purchase one for a single season.

[Victor_RO]

Two pictures of the HPD ARX-03c in testing at Motorland Aragon on Strakka Racing's Facebook page and on DSC. https://www.facebook.com/strakka.racing

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Two pictures of the HPD ARX-03c in testing at Motorland Aragon on Strakka Racing's Facebook page and on DSC. https://www.facebook.com/strakka.racing

could you post them here for us non-facebook users?

[MitchZ06]

You don't need to be a facebook user to see them?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by TF110

could you post them here for us non-facebook users?

They're on Dailysportscar too.

[Simmi]

Here they are. Someone more qualified than me can pick up on the changes: