New Pilbeam

[H16]

http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/n030306.html

Looks similar to the old, after all the PRs I expected a little more difference, but the rear certainly looks tighter and lower, the front appears lower, and the sides are certainly lower.

An MG beater? I doubt it? A Reynard 02S contender? Maybe. I never thought much of the 84, but the 91, while not looking THAT different, is certainly an improvement.

Dunlops, while not Michelins, should help things. I worry about the relability of the new engine. 120 degrees is a very wide angle, and can lead to stress in the chassis and mounting problems. IF you can get it right, its better, its better aerodynamically, and more weight on the bottom equals better handling rather than up top.

Renault had a nightmare with their 111 degree engine the first year they ran it, and this is wider than that.

[pirenzo]

Familiar wouldn't you say, i'm sure i've seen it somewhere....

[IanGrohse]

Ive always liked the way the Pilbeam looked.......although in those blue and yellow colors it is plain hokey dokey looking, cheesy. It looks great in silver.

But I dont understand WHY they dont reduce the size of the center piece of body work.....Its so huge, I think it looks good, but certainly not very aerodynamicly efficiant.

[IanGrohse]

Also, they need more power to be competitive.....They have been super reliable in the past, just not that fast. So, lets hope this engine stays reliable.

[RacingManiac]

it has more of a "semi-long" tail now....

BTW, the 111 degree thing in F1 won't work that well since the car has so little space to work with, packaging is a huge issue, in sportscar, the enclosed bodywork allows for much more space to work with....

[Chevyguy]

I've never really been a fan of the Pilbeam's looks, but I like the angle on the pic at DSC. Would I be crazy if I said it looks like a miniature 917? Or, 908? It has those big oval headlights all stickin' out like the old Porsches.

[pirenzo]

They shouldn't have problems with 120deg, it has won world champs for ferrari before, and many people have had no problems with 180...

[RacingManiac]

Originally posted by pirenzo
They shouldn't have problems with 120deg, it has won world champs for ferrari before, and many people have had no problems with 180...

Ferrari? When?

[AllonFS]

I just wish them luck after crashing out so early at Le Mans 01 in the first downpour. Could be a bumper year for supporting underdogs with the possibility of the return of Debora...

[Aysedasi]

The colour-scheme is fairly naf, but it looks a rather neat little machine to me.

I have a Debora on my "hypothetical" list Allon. You can bet your life that if they submitted an entry, the ACO will let them in.

[pirenzo]

Originally posted by RacingManiac
Ferrari? When?

I think that their 1961 car was 120deg

[Tim Northcutt]

The front end where the foot box/cockpit area goes down into the nose looks different than before...more pointed and rises faster ...maybe it is just the angle of the photo, though

[kdr]

sorry...its horrible.

[bigh]

Thanks kdr, my jaw was dropping further and further as I read all these compliments. A dog for me too I'm afraid.
H

[429CJ]

Don't know the looks, but those colours remind me the Telefonica ROC-VW's.

[H16]

The colors? Their the Renault Formula One Junior Team, did you not know that?

[Lee Janotta]

What are they thinking with that bulbous front bodywork?

[weeks]

I think they had the 2004 rules in mind when they rebuilt the thing. Look at it, double width rool hoop, no "formula" style pods, and i bet it weighs about 700kg. It makes sense, why spend all that time and money for a redisign for this year and then have to spend even more time and money to develope a car for next year? They may only get one or two wins in 2003, but expect some fancy stuff for 2004.