S2000 diesel regs question

[gregc]

I've just been looking through the S2000 regs (yeah I know, but it's Sunday afternoon and I'm bored....) and I noticed something that strikes me as odd. The diesel regs specify a higher minimum weight than petrol - anywhere between 45 and 70kg heavier depending on configuration. I'd always assumed that the diesel engined cars would be a bit down on power compared to petrol, so can anyone here shed any light on the reasoning behind this?

All the other differences between the 2 sets of regs make sense to me, but I can't figure this one out

[Captain VXR]

Diesels have better torque

[gregc]

Originally Posted by Captain VXR

Diesels have better torque

I know, although I hadn't appreciated quite how much more until I read some figures earlier, but I didn't really think it was enough to justify the weight penalty. An extra 200-odd Nm makes it make a lot more sense though, that lost 30bhp isn't looking so much now.

Though if the benefit is that big, it makes me wonder why more teams haven't tried it before.

[JMeissner]

Less fuel is required for a race, meaning less weight?

[werner]

I don't know how S2000-cars perform on fuel economy, but for a 50km race you don't need 45-70kg of fuel more than a diesel car.
Still, I think it's quite fair to let diesel-cars run somewhat heavier. This is because Touringcars are, and should be, based on road-cars. And the same car is heavier when fitted whith a tubo-dieselengine than it would be with a normally aspirated petrol fuelled car. That's why it's also a good thing that BMW's are a bit heavier, since their rearwheeldrivesystem must be compensated for in weight. I'm also in favor of the return of 4-wheeldrive, when the road-car is also available whith 4-wheeldrive, and whith sufficient weight added.
BTW, chances are that I have misspelled weight. Did i write it correctly, or is the correct spelling different. It was very annoying writing a reply, not being sure how to spell the wordt I had to use quite often :-(

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by gregc

The diesel regs specify a higher minimum weight than petrol - anywhere between 45 and 70kg heavier depending on configuration. I'd always assumed that the diesel engined cars would be a bit down on power compared to petrol, so can anyone here shed any light on the reasoning behind this?

To discourage manufacturers to enter boring sounding diesel cars?

[THIM]

Originally Posted by werner

BMW's are a bit heavier, since their rearwheeldrivesystem must be compensated for in weight. I'm also in favor of the return of 4-wheeldrive, when the road-car is also available whith 4-wheeldrive, and whith sufficient weight added.
BTW, chances are that I have misspelled weight.

BMWs aren't heavier, because they prefer to have 5-speed manual gearbox than 6-speed sequential and extra kgs. 4-wheel drive would be nice to see in WTCC races, but I think, that 280 bhp is too few to make it efficient, when weight (you spell it correctly ) is higher.

[gregc]

Originally Posted by FIRE

To discourage manufacturers to enter boring sounding diesel cars?

Well, they don't have to sound boring - I saw a video of the Peugeot 908 a while back, and I quite liked the noise it made. What the 120d (which is what got me interested in this issue) will sound like remains to be seen - well, heard