IMSA DPi Discussion

[Matt]

[canaglia]

Can't be sure because of lack of pics, but it seems that hpd is following the ligier-nissan route, with just different side air ducts and an "extra" nose mounted on a slightly untouched oreca standard bodywork.

[Matt]

http://sportscar365.com/features/vid...-breaks-cover/

It's nowhere near similar to the standard Oreca.

[Bcarr6]

Anyone got comparison pics yet?


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[Akrapovic]

They've raised the nose box (smaller radius curve) to come up and meet the bottom of the wing. Front arches have a different profile too, and it's got the trademark oversized acura dive planes.

It has kept the brake intakes inside the front arches, and the intake in the nose. Door shape is obviously Oreca (because it's the same chassis), but the window shape is currently the same too, so looks like it's a standard Oreca door on it. Behind the driver there's new gills where the radiators sit. Different engine in it, so makes sense. Exhaust position and the bodywork before and after is the same, as is the bodywork behind the front wheels. The bodywork that directs the air out from inside the front arches is the same. The leading edge of the rear arches is still the old Oreca though - they are flat sided and overhang the flat area of the engine cover. Will be interesting to see if the rear exits are the same as the Oreca.

[deggis]

http://acuranews.com/acura-automobil...otype-race-car

Vehicle to debut August 18 at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, with appearances at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance to follow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cblkk4d9YMw

From the video:

[Akrapovic]

Here's some more shots. All from the video.

[Coach Ep]

Sounds like Multimatic is using its joker already:

"The second phase of testing is expected to come later this year with a revised chassis, which Juttner indicated would go through both the FIA and ACO for LMP2-related updates and IMSA for any DPi-specific changes.

It’s unclear if the chassis developments would count as the car’s permitted “joker” update allowed once per four-year homologation cycle."

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/jo...sting-program/

If it does and the Mazda DPi 2.0 proves not to be the improvement needed, are they allowed to jump to a Oreca/Ligier/Dallara based design for 2019 and beyond?

[chernaudi]

It does look a lot like the standard Oreca. But then again, the Cadillac looks a lot like the basic Dallara and the ESM Nissan looks a lot like the standard Ligier.

Fact is with ACO/IMSA homologation for basic LMP2s, there's not a lot you can do really outside of the unstressed body panels (noseboxes and tubs are like the Audi R10 and most subsequent LMP1 and LMP2 cars in that the tub and nosebox are actually exposed to the air).

And we have to remember that the Riley was designed around the Mazda DPI spec first, instead of the other way around (though it seems that the Cadillac version of the Dallara also got priority over the base car). The Riley also has more unstressed bodywork on the front of the car than the other DPI/LMP2 cars.

[kvenom]

That is one ugly snout.

[Damian Baldi]

The Acura would be look better without that kind of wing at the front, with just the new nose they made. However, it is great to see a new car.

About the Mazda, I hope Multimatic make an entire new chassis

[joeb]

Originally Posted by kvenom

That is one ugly snout.

I wonder if front down force is an issue, hence the front wing, or if it is a design element? Either way it reminds me of the old gtp front wings.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wonder if front down force is an issue, hence the front wing, or if it is a design element? Either way it reminds me of the old gtp front wings.

I was just thinking about this...

I bet the Nissan's "wing" was designed to impact the original design as little as possible. In the case of Oreca and Penske, I bet that really is a wing and is very efficient while being part of the "design language" at the same time.

[Akrapovic]

Looking forward to seeing what the lights and bodywork looks like when it's in proper livery. I do find the dazzel camo funny, given that from the front wheels backwards, it's an Oreca (with some added slots on the top of the sidepod). So we're trying to hide an Oreca, and they'll show off the front end soon enough anyway. I guess this camo is more for coolness rather than anything else nowadays.

[canaglia]

Originally Posted by Matt

http://sportscar365.com/features/vid...-breaks-cover/

It's nowhere near similar to the standard Oreca.

Can I suggest you new glasses?

[Maelochs]

Actually, the protruding center nose section with what appears to be a vent is reminiscent of the Porsche Spyder ...

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by deggis

http://acuranews.com/acura-automobil...otype-race-car

Vehicle to debut August 18 at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, with appearances at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance to follow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cblkk4d9YMw

From the video:

No...no...nonononNO!!! I'M GETTING PICCHIO FLASHBACKS!!!!!!

[TF110]

Looks like the bridge wing is going to feature on this like the ESM Nissan Ligier. Not the prettiest solution, but let's see how it looks when it's done.

[carbsmith]

I can't even follow that styling. That hideous thing actually looks like another Nissan, not an Acura.



LMP2 cars with high downforce fenders and maybe a vanity panel across the top of the nose to make an iffy fake grille is a pretty weak outcome for all of this.

[chernaudi]

No different than the relatively minor changes that Cadillac did to the Dallara.

You have to remember that the Riley was designed for DPI first, not the other way around as with Oreca and Onroak (it's debatable if Dallara started the Caddy first or their customer car).

Also, the following elements can't be changed from the base car to the DPI (or vice versa):

Tub/chassis, nose box, front diffuser, rear diffuser, floor between diffusers. That basically leaves unstressed body panels. So front and rear fenders, side pods, engine cover and tail section sans crash structure.

I think that we got a bit spoiled by what Mazda did. But as pointed out, Multimatic/Riley designed it as a DPI first, then the base car.

[AoB Special Stage]

Originally Posted by canaglia

Can't be sure because of lack of pics, but it seems that hpd is following the ligier-nissan route, with just different side air ducts and an "extra" nose mounted on a slightly untouched oreca standard bodywork.

And you're surprised after the fit they threw about the bodywork?

Also, this nose.
https://s.aolcdn.com/commerce/autoda...181A021001.jpg

[Jam3s]

They would be stupid to change the design more than needed, the 07 is the best base P2 package available. Also not convinced that nose "wing" isn't aero neutral, it looks like the upper surface is longer than the underside (lift) + angle of attack, interesting.

[carbsmith]

Originally Posted by AoB Special Stage

And you're surprised after the fit they threw about the bodywork?

Also, this nose.
https://s.aolcdn.com/commerce/autoda...181A021001.jpg

Yeah that nose that isn't being used on any of their cars anymore.

[Dyson Mazda]

I am going to wait until we see what it looks like painted up. The Caddy DPi out of the box didn't have a whole lot going on either.

[Matt]

Some sketches by Andy Blackmore - that middle bottom one is pretty.