24h Le Mans
Last autumn, Mike Newton, new owner of Tiga Race Cars, announced the design of an LM P2 prototype, a class in which the British businessman shined at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2005 and 2006. The design phase is now complete as the LM214 has gone through a wind tunnel.
Photo : D.R. - Tiga Race Cars
Lead by James Crook, aerodynamicist for the Caterham F1 team, aerodynamics students have been studying the LM P2 car. They will now be able to use the collected data to verify the consistency of their mathematical calculations with real-world findings.
Mike Newton: "This was the first review in the wind tunnel of the initial test parts for the LMP214 bodywork. Although we were still running the original rear wing mount, and experimenting with front wheel opening positions, we were able to collect some encouraging and useful data, in particular to allow the students to be able to correlate their theoretical work to date with live data. We are delighted to be working with Manchester University both in terms of advancing the design, and also providing the students with real life scenarios."
The constructor Tiga Race Cars, which possesses a simulator, did not start from scratch and used the Embassy WFR-01 chassis seen at the 2008 24 Hours with the Embassy Racing team (retired) which closed its doors shortly after the race in La Sarthe. Improved and modernized to comply with 2014 regulations, the LM214 prototype (for LM P2 and 2014) will welcome a Judd engine, like the MG EX264 driven by Mike Newton in 2005 for his first success at Le Mans.
The 83rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains Mike Newton's target, 19 years after Tiga's last participation.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt
(quote from Tiga Race Cars website)
