Can a racecar be green? Possibly, now that there’s a new kid on the block in the world of racecars. Called the Delta Wing, it’s a revolutionary racing car with a dramatic shape designed to be more efficient. Chief designer Ben Bowlby envisioned a racecar designed to “halve the aerodynamic drag, halve the power, halve the mass, fuel consumption, tire consumption and still achieve the performance of our competitors.” In his words, for racing, “the future is about efficiency.”
Dan Gurney’s All American Racers took on the development of Bowlby’s design with efficiency at the forefront, which necessitated many hand-built parts to make sure this vehicle also met all official racing requirements. Featuring a 1.6 liter, 4-cylinder Nissan engine, the Delta Wing racing car has an ultra-tapered front end with just four-inch wide tires and flares out to a regulation racecar width back end.

CXC Simulations took part in the development process of this unique racecar: CXC built the Virtual Delta Wing Race Car – a racing simulator made to feel like the real Delta Wing – and created the virtual Le Mans track for the Delta Wing development team. CXC Simulations then also provided All American Racers with one full-motion racing simulator during the development of the Delta Wing. Working with CXC’s extremely realistic simulator is an efficient way to get the feel for the track before hitting the rubber on the pavement – which it did last month.  

Alex Gurney: “CXC went way out of their way to provide a fantastic simulator experience for all of us involved in the Delta Wing project. With a car so out of the mainstream, it was a huge help that the simulator gave us a feel for a lot of the ‘unknowns’ before we actually hit the track. I turned countless laps at the ‘virtual’ Le Mans, and if the sim didn’t have to go home, I would probably still be sitting in there turning laps, smiling all the way.”

Reminiscent of the Batmobile with its fin and cool carbon fiber exterior, the Delta Wing was launched on March 1, 2012 at Buttonwillow Raceway in California. Alex Gurney, the two-time Grand Am racing Champion, had the honor of taking the Delta Wing around its first curves on the racetrack. The track test proved – yes, it does turn!

On to big things, the Delta Wing is now handled by Highcroft Racing and will have its debut race at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans on 16–17th June. As of now, two racecar drivers have been confirmed for Le Mans: Marino Franchitti and Nissan’s reigning FIA GT1 World Champion Michael Krumm. Due to previous racing commitments, Alex Gurney will not be able to take part at Le Mans. It has the 56th exhibition only spot, yet the Delta Wing’s performance is very relevant. CXC Simulations was thrilled to be involved with the innovative racecar’s development and wishes Le Mans drivers the best of luck come this summer!

 

              

Headquartered in Marina del Rey, California, CXC Simulations was formed specifically to manufacture a professional-level racing simulator that was not only suitable for pro drivers and race teams, but practical for home use. Developed with professional drivers and engineers over a period of two years, the result was the CXC Motion Pro II Simulator, about which AutoWeek said, “might just be the best racing simulator in the world.”
The CXC MP II is carefully assembled from aluminum, laser-cut steel and carbon fiber, the same materials as race cars. Powered by a purpose-built rack-mounted simulation computer, it is compatible with all major commercial and online racing software options and users may choose from a nearly inexhaustible and ever-increasing list of modern or vintage cars to drive, including F1, GT, NASCAR, sports cars, off-road, open-wheel and rally (even race boats) and tracks around the world to race on. Yet the precise implementation and interpretation of that software is what separates the MP II from other simulators; the exact timing, intensity and accuracy of its proprietary full-motion system, tactile transducers and force-feedback controls, together with 5.1 surround sound and a 1080p high-definition video display. The CXC MP II is now also available as a flight simulator. Trusted by professional racers and loved by home simulator users, the CXC Motion Pro II provides the ultimate driving simulator experience.