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WINNING RACER BACKED BY SPACE TECHNOLOGY
25 September 2003 - European Space Agency
| 'Henri Pescarolo demonstrated once again last week-end that innovative
technologies we originally developed for our spacecraft can be put to work in
automobiles improving both performance and safety,' says Pierre Brisson, Head of
ESA's Technology Transfer and Promotion Office. |
Pescarolo Sport opened the seven-event FIA Sportscar Championship season 2003 by winning the first race in Estoril, Portugal on 13 April 2003. The new racing car
was already demonstrating its worth - its body weight reduced by use of
composite materials developed for ESA's satellites and driver safety improved by
applying insulation materials from Ariane, the European launcher. Then in June, the two Pescarolo cars ended in the top ten of 50 competitors in
the tough 24-hours competition at Le Mans. Just after the race, driver Frank
Lagorce noted how the car, 'was much better this year than last year. It was
much lighter.' After a fine second place obtained in Spa, Belgium, last month, Pescarolo closed
the season by winning Sunday's last race in Nogaro, France. André de Cortanze, Technical Director of Pescarolo Sport team, said 'It is
basically the same car as last year, but with much improved performance. In
addition to fitting a 3.2 litres V6 twin turbo supercharged engine specially
designed for endurance racing and delivering up to 600 hp at 6600 rpm, having a
lighter body made with space materials made it possible us to optimise weight
distribution resulting in an improved overall car performance'. ESA's Technology Transfer Programme formed a partnership with Pescarolo Sport in December 2002 to identify and provide innovative technologies that had already
been developed for space missions, and which could be used in their endurance
racing cars. Performance to weight ratio is vital in racing and high-tech carbon composite
materials - used to build satellites - were used to construct the new Pescarolo
sports car. This gave a reduction of 29 kg in the car's weight, and compensated
for the reduction in engine power of 60 horsepower - required by the new
Automobile Club de l'Ouest regulations for the world famous 24-hour Le Mans
race. To improve safety, thermal shields similar to those used on Europe's Ariane
launchers were placed between the engine and the flexible fuel tank to protect
it from engine fire hazards. In addition, a quartz felt, also from Ariane, was
used to insulate the 800°C hot exhaust system, the manifold and the turbo,
increasing both safety and turbo compressor performance. With the victory in Estoril in April, the second place in Spa in September, and
winning in Nogaro last Sunday, the Pescarolo Sport with their 'Courage C60 Evo
Peugeot' car finished second overall in the FIA Sportscar Championship for the
2003 season. 'This is a very encouraging result. Throughout the season in each race our car
was in a winning position,' says Henri Pescarolo, team leader of the Pescarolo
Sport Team. 'Unfortunately some small incidents disturbed our mid-season
results.' 'But two victories, second place in Spa and our great performance at the
24-hours race of Le Mans proved that the technological contributions from ESA
were effective.' Pescarolo Sport Team is already focusing on the 2004 endurance races and the
legendary 24-hour at Le Mans, and discussing how the car can be further
improved, how can an even better result be reached, can other innovations from
ESA perk up the performance? Who knows, maybe next year we will see even more space technology successes on European automobile racetracks.
http://www.esa.int
About: European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe. ESA has 15 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. ESA’s job is to draw up the European space programme and carry it through. The Agency’s projects are designed to find out more about the Earth, its immediate space environment, the solar system and the Universe, as well as to develop satellite-based technologies and services, and to promote European industries. ESA also works closely with space organisations outside Europe to share the benefits of space with the whole of mankind. |
More News:
• For September 2003
• From European Space Agency
• For Physical Metallurgy
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