[WEC] Peugeot Sport returning to WEC

[Simmi]

Potentially podium again



On a serious note, a belated welcome to the forum. Have enjoyed your posts.

On the Porsche, I think it was Marshall Pruett who was saying that their suspension is so trick, with an infinite amount of settings, that Penske may have got lost in the weeds a bit. But it's not the suspension that is causing the car to constantly stop out on track.

What's exciting is seeing these teams make the jump from year one to year two. For much of 2021 the GR010 looked like an absolute dog to be honest. We know Porsche have the means to put it right. Hopefully Pug do too.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Right. To my knowledge the cars are officially windtunneld once a year. They must remain compliant to the results any time. But they can have homologated at least two different aero elements. As to mesure any pitch on-track alteration, you're right, the instances can monitor this live, amongst many other things. What is the tolerance applied, I dunno. As the put the wing to the bin, you've been heard. They will win at least once this year.

I don’t recall the once the year and I thought it was a single element that can be adjusted. The car has to remain within the window throughout the entire adjustment.

When developing the car Toyota had to decide whether to have a front adjustment or a rear wing adjustment. They went rear wing.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Adam43

I don’t recall the once the year and I thought it was a single element that can be adjusted. The car has to remain within the window throughout the entire adjustment.

When developing the car Toyota had to decide whether to have a front adjustment or a rear wing adjustment. They went rear wing.

Single element only is correct, and the car must maintain downforce/drag ration in full range of adjustment

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by Adam43

I don’t recall the once the year and I thought it was a single element that can be adjusted.

True for both LMH and LMDh.

Only one bodywork adjustable aerodynamic device (such as a wing, flap…) may be used. Whatever the position of this device, the car must fullfill the aerodynamic criteria defined in the Appendixes to these Regulations at all times.

Only one bodywork adjustable aerodynamic device or devices assembly (such as a front or rear wing, flap, dive-plane, gurney, etc…) may be used. Whatever the position of this device, the car must fulfil the aerodynamic criteria defined in these Regulations at all times.

As for wind tunnel testing, I also believe there isn't any mandatory retesting every year. Only in case of jokers they must check if car still meets the aero window after updates (obviously).

[veeten]

It took a couple of looks, both static and in motion, to get the gist of what the designers were looking for. It's not the main rear section for downforce, it's the two smaller ones over the rear wheels that's the center of the idea. Both are adjustable, but they are lack one thing: in the same way that the Chaparral had in their cars in the late 60's. On braking and turning, the rear wing would move to direct air to create downforce over the rear wheels.

A similar idea is to make those rear winglets/channels operate in a similar manner, but differently in certain situations. Full down in hard braking, but in cornering to varying degrees where the outer would stabilize and the inner would maintain. Similar to trim tabs on a speedboat.

The car doesn't have that and the result is that you have good straitaway stability but compromised in the turns both entering and exiting. It would work with an active system, but the rules would be the problem.

[Gerard C]

Stoffel Vandoorne to replace Müller. Not a real newbie in the Peugeot Totalenergies team he's a reserve driver (plus test at Aragon). Will he help them for the first win of the year?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Stoffel Vandoorne to replace Müller. Not a real newbie in the Peugeot Totalenergies team he's a reserve driver (plus test at Aragon). Will he help them for the first win of the year?

I think track conditions may end up deciding who wins this one. Wet and variable might suite the Peugeot just fine.

[Gerard C]

Yep, but I don't think there's any relashionship beteween track conditions and wingless design but they are advantageously Bop'ed on a demanding track. They say they've been focused on fixing the reliability issues they had.

[RL17]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Yep, but I don't think there's any relashionship beteween track conditions and wingless design but they are advantageously Bop'ed on a demanding track. They say they've been focused on fixing the reliability issues they had.

thought wingless design also meant same size tyres for max rear tunnel size (mainly smaller rear tyres) and lower hybrid kick in speed (unless that's been changed) and wet weather running were quite compatible

[joeb]

Originally Posted by RL17

thought wingless design also meant same size tyres for max rear tunnel size (mainly smaller rear tyres) and lower hybrid kick in speed (unless that's been changed) and wet weather running were quite compatible

the lower speed of front wheel drive is what i was referring to. They seemed to do alright at that race in July when it was wet.

[Gerard C]

If my memory serves right, its up to the RC, and only him/them, to declare the track statuus, dry or wet before the start. This is seconded by a panel shown to the competitors at the exit of the pit-lane (together with "rain light on" if needed). In principle, this does not change during the race. Which makes sense imo.

From Adam's infos it was not obvious that the hybrid kick was a real advantage at the exit of the corners for the Pugs.

I'm fully with joeb saying: "I think track conditions may end up deciding who wins this one".

[Adam43]

I don’t think the data I’ve posted in these threads allows you to tell. They tend to be full lap times, top speeds and the occasional sector speeds. Along with recreating the BoP tables: https://tentenths.com/forum/showpost...&postcount=417

But at Le Mans we did see them come to the fore in the changeable conditions. There are lots of selfies from the Peugeot pit to back this up.

Edit: And it looked like it was better in those conditions.

[RL17]

Top lap times wouldn’t show wet weather performance but remember a few spots of rain 7ish? in T23 when yellow caddy was spinning and also was up on Porsche curves about 4am (possibly earlier) when the Peugeot that had been leading limped back after crashing from the lead?

So they did have a good few hours in the rain - although there was a long SC period around midnight

[Adam43]

Even a fast car can be spannered into the barriers. It just hits it harder.

Their best showing occurred at this time. As much as we can tell this is a contributing factor. Of course it is a hypothesis. We’re not engineers on these teams, but wet or dry, we know Peugeot have this break in BoP

[RL17]

Checking the hourly positions:

94 was 10th after 2 hours and then lead after ]edit 4 hours] and was also leading after 8,9 &10 hours so not just a pit stop anomaly

[Adam43]

It did alright.

This isn’t one thing that means they win with a bit of drizzle in Fuji, but it will help.

Fuji rain can just be bad for everyone anyway, drainage isn’t great, and when it rains it can rain.

[veeten]

Check the Spa numbers, they have a better equation with Fuji. Similar conditions...

[Gerard C]

One lap on-board at Fuji with Duval: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB6qB24xKXY

[Gerard C]

Fuji 6 hrs: #94 finishing seventh one lap down followed by #93 two laps down. Crual. BoP'ed as they are we could expect a better result.

[Sodemo]

The Pug just needs a philosophy revision, probably mostly aero if the car is mechanically sound.

[Gerard C]

Assuming you're serious, Sodemo, you're talking about the whole wingless concept. Hope you're wrong here. 'F course, nothing personal.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Assuming you're serious, Sodemo, you're talking about the whole wingless concept. Hope you're wrong here. 'F course, nothing personal.

So what can Peugeot do?

[Gerard C]

It's all in their hands. I don't think they have enough will and money to have a brand new car designed bearing in mind they have to report to the board.

They now have the reliability but a noticeable lack of pace in Sector 3 at Fuji. Very good drivers, constant, no mistake and staying away from any incident/accident. Vandoorne for his first race has been impressive imo. Few post race words but nice, fair and deserved congrats to Porsche. My bet is they're looking for improvements and not good words. What can they find before Bahreïn?

[veeten]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

The Pug just needs a philosophy revision, probably mostly aero if the car is mechanically sound.

That's exactly what I was saying, it has to be the aero.. more so towards the rear of the car.

[Sodemo]

The cynic in me thinks that Peugeot designed this car to be like a "LeMans special". They were probably banking on the car underperforming at the other venues, but being a silver bullet at LeMans, but that never happened.