conceptcarz.com

2009 Pescarolo 01 EVO

Endurance sports car racing has been severely looking for a present-day version of the manufacturer battle that once existed amongst Ferrari and Porsche within the prototype category. The diesel-powered Audis and Peugeots created that battle for which everyone was looking. Unfortunately, everything else gets lost in the background.

Heading into the 2009 season, the battle between Audi and Peugeot was brewing heavily. In addition to them, 2009 marked the return of Aston Martin to prototype racing beyond merely providing engines. Aston Martin returned 50 years after their dramatic one-two finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Then, when the car debuted in the blue and orange Gulf livery, almost everything else was forgotten.

Therefore, it didn't capture too much attention when Henri Pescarolo announced a heavily revised version of its popular LMP1 and LMP2 chassis, the 01. However, the latest generation of the 01 did feature some noted styling revisions from its predecessors.

The changes to the 2009 chassis are apparent right away with just a glance at the nose, let alone the rest of the car. The front wheel fairings feature a concave-less designed leading edge. Instead, the leading edge of the fairing cuts across at an angle from the outer-edges and curves to blend in to the step-up front splitter. The angle of the front wheel fairing still enables wing elements, with rather large areas, to be attached to the front of the car to aid in downforce and balance.

The outer edges of the front splitter features rounded endplates that work in conjunction with the front wheel fairing to direct airflow smoothly out around the sides of the car. The raised-nose remains, but it too has been revised. The 2009 evolution has a raised nose that sits further back away from the front-edge of the splitter.

Travelling aft along the car, the truly major revisions become abundantly clear. First of all, the sidepods of the car have become their own feature, similar to that used in Peugeot's 908 and the Dome chassis that ran at Le Mans in 2008.

The leading edge of the sidepod starts further up on the tub structure, and then, angles back to the top of the actual sidepod structure. This leading edge helps direct airflow into the radiator inlet, but also, up and over the sidepod and toward the rear of the car. In addition, this leading-edge panel, between the wheel fairings and the car's structure, features a number of contoured louvers. These louvers help separate bottled-up airflow, thus providing smoother airflow as it passes over the sidepod and to the rear of the car.

The sidepod structure itself is much more sculpted. It is pulled in at its waist and contoured outward as it travels upward. This helps the airflow built up around the radiator inlet to exit out the side of the car without causing too much turbulence, and therefore, drag.

To help minimize the disturbance when the airflow passing around the sidepod rejoins the airflow passing along the side of the car, the rear bodywork of the front wheel fairing is separated from the rest of the chassis. The aft portion of the fairing is also contoured to match the sidepod in order to provide rather equal spacing through the channel created by the wheel fairings and the tub structure of the car.

The cockpit and the components underneath the cowling remained virtually unchanged, including the 5.5-liter Judd V10. However, power of the 5.5-liter Judd V10 was increased to 650 bhp, which was an improvement upon the original Judd V10 integrated with the first 01 chassis. The car also still made use of the XTrac 6-speed gearbox.

There were a couple of other changes, mostly hidden by the newly designed bodywork. For one thing, the rear suspension featured a third damper to help with pitch stability. The car retained the large ventilated carbon brakes at each corner of the car. However, the front brakes received shields, which help increase cooling.

Regulation changes for 2009 led to teams making a number of changes to their cars. The Pescarolo 01 reflects an all-around revision to not merely meet the regulations, but to help the 01 increase its performance and stability. An important piece to provide overall stability was the rear end of the car.

The general shape of the sidepods aft of the cockpit is flat. The bodywork then dramatically falls off on either side of the car right before the rear wheels. This is yet another aid to help smoothen out airflow toward the rear of the car. The falling-off bodywork accents the tall, rounded rear wheel fairings.

The regulations demanded the rear wing of the car to be shortened in its width. This new change dramatically cuts down on downforce at the rear of the car. In an effort to claw that downforce back, the rear bodywork under the wing, and at the aft portions of the wheel fairings, all feature large ramp-like designs. These utilize the air flowing in these regions to flow over and up these ramps, and therefore, provide extra, albeit unchangeable downforce levels at the rear of the car. The shortened rear wing remains virtually unchanged, but does have endplates designed to slide into the ramps at the aft portion of the rear wheel fairings.

With the number of changes made to the new Pescarolo 01, many wondered what kind of performance increases the new car would be able to post over its predecessor. Head of Research and Development Nicolas Clemencon made good use of the support the team received by SORA composites, as well as time in the wind tunnel, and the fruits of these efforts would become quite clear when the new car debuted at Catalunya.

During qualifying for the 1000km race, the new 01 posted a time that was not just a couple of tenths faster than its predecessors. The new 01 evolution ticked off a lap a whole two seconds faster! This enabled Pescarolo Sport to start the race 4th.

Unfortunately for Pescarolo's new entry, Aston Martin Racing also had an all-new car. The new Lola-Aston Martin and Pescarolo 01 would do battle throughout the race. In the end, Aston Martin Racing would get the upper hand and take the victory. Pescarolo Sport would come in 2nd. A second Pescarolo Sport 01 would come in 6th.

The 1000km of Spa became an unofficial final proving ground before the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Therefore, Team Peugeot Total came with a couple 908 HDi FAPs. Surprisingly, Audi, and its new R15, was absent from the race. That was fine by Pescarolo Sport, especially given Henri's position on diesels being allowed to compete in the same category as the petrol-powered cars.

In qualifying, Pescarolo's cars qualified 5th and 8th. In the race, one of the team's cars would drop out after 53 laps. The other car, number 16, driven by Jean-Christophe Boullion and Christophe Tinseau, experienced a truly splendid result. Team Peugeot car number 7 would win the race, but not all that far back, Pescarolo Sport, car 16, finished 2nd. It was the only car still remaining on the lead lap with the Peugeot by the end.

At the 77th running of the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans, Pescarolo Sport entered only one of its 01 chassis. Giving in to the desire for an overall win, Pescarolo was given the opportunity to enter a 2008 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP under its team name. Henri jumped at the chance. Obviously the petrol-powered 01 chassis took second billing in importance. But during the race, it would become the team's only hope.

After qualifying 4th for the race, the Pescarolo-Peugeot's race came undone within the first hour of the race when it collected another of the Peugeots in the pits. Then, heading into the nighttime hours its race came to an end altogether. This left the team's hopes squarely on its petrol-powered 01 chassis.

At the end of the 24 hour race, the steady Pescarolo 01 would finish 8th overall. It would be the third highest finishing petrol-powered car behind a Lola-Aston Martin and an Oreca 01.

When the Le Mans Series season resumed at the beginning of August, Pescarolo Sport earned a truly amazing win. In qualifying, the lone Pescarolo 01 couldn't get hooked-up. The best the car could seem to do was only good enough to start the race from 7th on the grid. However, starting position isn't as important as where one ends up. While things looked great for Team Oreca and Aston Martin, the nighttime race seemed to spell disaster for the two teams.

The race started in the evening of the 1st of August and would end early in the morning on the 2nd. Throughout the race, the competition was tight. Then, at the end of the 1000km test, Pescarolo Sport pulled out the victory over Aston Martin and Team Oreca. It was a truly remarkable result after the team started 7th. It perhaps served as the greatest testament of the true ability of the new chassis design.

After a failure at the Nurburgring, Pescarolo Sport prepared to attack for the Le Mans Series championship at the final event of the season, the 1000km of Silverstone.

It seemed things were going to go well after the first couple of practice sessions. Pescarolo topped the time sheets during the first-two sessions. Later, championship rivals Aston Martin Racing topped the third practice session.

In qualifying, the attempt at the championship came unraveled for the French squad when an error was made in qualifying. A spin, and troubles to get back rolling again, cost Pescarolo Sport a qualifying time of over five minutes. This sent their one car to the back of the starting grid.

The French team put up a splendid fight during the race nonetheless. While Team Oreca Matmut, Speedy Racing and Aston Martin Racing battled it out at the front of the field, Pescarolo's drivers were forced to fight in order to come up through the field, and possibly save a championship. Unfortunately, it was all for naught. Aston Martin Racing finished the race 3rd and clinched the championship. Pescarolo Sport finished the race in 13th, some fourteen laps down.

2009 was a successful and difficult year, even with the improved 2009 chassis. Besides the occasional presence of Peugeot at Le Mans Series races, the presence of the powerful, petrol-powered Lola Aston Martin made it difficult for Pescarolo Sport. Yet, even though it wasn't able to clinch the championship, Pescarolo's evolution of the 01 chassis proved it was still a favorite amidst the front-runners, especially amongst petrol-powered chassis.

The unfortunate news heading into 2010 was that despite the performance increases offered by the latest 01 evolution, sponsorship money for teams not capable of fighting with the diesels became harder to come by. This led to Pescarolo Sport to offer its chassis construction to OAK Racing for the 2010 season, and it was rumored the team would not even be able to race in 2010 at all.

'Le Mans 2009: Pescarolo', (http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/sportscar/343314/le-mans-2009-pescarolo.html). Racecar Engineering: The International Journal of Motorsport Technology. http://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/sportscar/343314/le-mans-2009-pescarolo.html. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

'Le Mans Series Silverstone 1000km', (http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/event/204/2009-Le-Mans-Series-Silverstone-1000-km.html). Ultimatecarpage.com: Powered by Knowledge, Driven by Passion. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/event/204/2009-Le-Mans-Series-Silverstone-1000-km.html. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

'Pescarolo 01 Evo Judd', (http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4109/Pescarolo-01-Evo-Judd.html). Ultimatecarpage.com: Powered by Knowledge, Driven by Passion. http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4109/Pescarolo-01-Evo-Judd.html. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

'Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo-Judd LMP1 Le Mans Series Silverstone 2009', (ttp://www.flickr.com/photos/antsphoto/3919233516/#/photos/antsphoto/3919233516/lightbox/). Flickr: Pescarolo Sport Pescarolo-Judd LMP1 Le Mans Series Silverstone 2009. ttp://www.flickr.com/photos/antsphoto/3919233516/#/photos/antsphoto/3919233516/lightbox/. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, '2009 24 Hours of Le Mans', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 January 2011, 16:55 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2009_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans&oldid=409581375 accessed 26 January 2011

'Pescarolo's Worst Fears Are About to Become Reality', (http://lemans-sensations.com/2010/04/pescarolos-worst-fears-are-about-to-become-reality/). 24 Hours of Le Mans: News, Photos and Travel Tips. http://lemans-sensations.com/2010/04/pescarolos-worst-fears-are-about-to-become-reality/. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, '2009 Le Mans Series season', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 December 2010, 04:32 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2009_Le_Mans_Series_season&oldid=403823588 accessed 26 January 2011

By Jeremy McMullen

Recent Vehicle Additions

Related Automotive News

Record-Setting Acura TLX GT Coming to Amelia Island

Record-Setting Acura TLX GT Coming to Amelia Island

Record-setting Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Acura TLX GT coming to 2024 Amelia Island Concours dElegance All-Wheel-Drive RealTime Racing Acura is a three-time winner at Pikes Peak Driver Peter Cunningham piloted the Acura TLX GT to Open C...
2024 Acura Integra Type S Makes Racing Debut at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

2024 Acura Integra Type S Makes Racing Debut at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Acura will campaign four entries in the historic hill climb event including two Integra race cars and a wild NSX Type S Active Aero Study, nicknamed Yamabiko Integra Type S race car driven by fourth generation racer Loni Unser brings Acu...
Subaru WRX STi Type RA NBR Special Sets Sub-Seven Minute Nurburgring Lap

Subaru WRX STi Type RA NBR Special Sets Sub-Seven Minute Nurburgring Lap

Lap time of 657.5 is fastest ever for a sedan Nurburg, Germany - Subaru of America, Inc. announced today that the Subaru WRX STI Type RA NBR Special set a new lap record for a four-door sedan at the famous 12.8-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife...
McLaren P1 LM Sets 6Min 43Sec Nurburgring Lap Time

McLaren P1 LM Sets 6Min 43Sec Nurburgring Lap Time

In June 2016, the P1 LM was launched at Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it became the fastest road car to tackle the Goodwood Hill. Over the past eleven months, as the five P1 LM production cars have been built, the identical prototype XP1LM road...
2001 BMW M3 GTR RACE AND ROAD CARS TO BE PRESENTED AT LEGENDS OF THE AUTOBAHN CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE

2001 BMW M3 GTR RACE AND ROAD CARS TO BE PRESENTED AT LEGENDS OF THE AUTOBAHN CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – August 6, 2015... BMW of North America, LLC will unveil the newly restored 2001 BMW M3 GTR (E46) Stars and Stripes liveried race car along with its long hidden road-going counterpart at the Legends of the Autobahn Concours...