Lola-Zytek auto (200506 to 200708)
The Lola B05/52 was the spec auto used the by the series from the 200506 season to the 200708 season. It was powered by Zytek engines, and ran on Cooper tyres. The former chassis is now used in the Euro Formula 3000 series, starting in 2009.
Chassis
The chassis, designated Lola A1GP, is made and designed by Lola Cars. The A1 Auto has a carbon fibre skin which cloaks a core made of aluminium honeycomb. Based on bionic engineering principles discovered in nature, the hexagonal honeycomb is discovered to give remarkable strength for its weight, and has progressive deformation properties when experiencing an impact, ensuring the driver’s safety. In addition the drivers are also protected by FIA-approved side intrusion panels which protect them from lateral impacts.
Engine
The engine for the cars was developed by Zytek Engineering. The 3.4-litre V8 unit is capable of delivering 520 bhp (550 bhp in powerboost mode). Each engine has to be really durable as it has to last a whole season. The engine only weighs 120 kilograms, making it 1 of the lightest 3.4-litre engines ever made.
Technical specifications
Dimensions of an A1 car.
The automobile has an overall length of 4833 mm, with a lengthy wheelbase of 3000 mm and a wide track of 1476 mm (front) and 1468 mm(rear). Its total weight amounts to 695 kilograms, with out the driver and the fuel.
Engine sort: ZA1348
Configuration: 90 degree V8
Displacement: 3400 cc
Width: 619 mm
Height: 542 mm
Length: 543 mm
Weight: 120 kg
Cylinder block: Sand cast aluminium alloy
Cylinder head: Sand cast aluminium alloy
Valvetrain: 4 overhead camshafts 4 valves per Cylinder
Engine Management: Zytek EMS 4.6.1
Ignition: Zytek DCDI with coil over plug
Spark plugs: NGK
Fuel: 100 octane rating biofuel
Max Torque: 330 lbfft (442 Nm)
Max power: 520 bhp (388 kW)
Suspension
The front and rear suspension is of a double wishbone and pushrod operated twin coil over damper construction. Adjustable ride height, cambers and toe, as well as anti-dive and anti-squat made to optimise drive control.
Clutch
A two-piece carbon clutch was tailored specially for the vehicle to deal with the exceptional torque of a racing engine with up to 550 bhp (410 kW) and the two racing starts per weekend. The unit combines lightweight construction with durability and bullet-proof reliability. The A1 car’s gearchange is by electronically automated shifting of a six-speed paddle shift transmissioneak loads at full throttle could literally shred a lesser clutch. The two-piece carbon clutch can take the load, even when the driver changes up with the PowerBoost activated. In hot and cold testing the clutch proved faultless.
PowerBoost
The PowerBoost button on the A1 automobile allows the engine to reach its maximum of 550 bhp (410 kW). When employed at the proper time, this feature can encourage overtaking. For the PowerBoost to be activated, the throttle position should be above 80% and the speed must be much more than 60 km/h. The button need to also be depressed to continue on PowerBoost mode. Nonetheless, the PowerBoost will automatically deactivate itself if the throttle falls below 40%. Every driver only has a limited amount of uses for the PowerBoost. The driver can only use it four times in a sprint race and eight times in a feature race. Once these maximum allocated uses of the PowerBoost have been used, the system is disabled until the end of the race, after which Zytek engineers would reset the system to prepare the automobile for the next race.
Tyres
A1 Grand Prix uses slick tyres on typical dry races. Pneumatics were supplied exclusively by Cooper Tires.
Fuel
A1 Grand Prix uses 100 RON Biofuel for all cars.
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Lola formula cars
Formula Junior (1960-1963): Mk2 | Mk3 | Mk5
Formula One (1962-1997): Lola Formula One cars
Formula Two (1964-1984): T54/T55 | T60 | T100 | T240 | T550 | T850
Formula 3 (1964-Now): T53 | T60 | T350/T360 | T470 | T570 | T670 | T770 | T870 | F106 | B05/30 | B06/30 | B07/30
Indycar / Champ Vehicle (1965-2006): T80 | T90 | T150 | T500 | T700 | T800 | T900 | T86/00 | T87/00 | T88/00 | T89/00 | T90/00 | T91/00 | T92/00 | T93/00 | T94/00 | T95/00 | T96/00 | T97/00 | B98/00 | B98/00 | B99/00 | B2K/00 | B01/00 | B02/00
Formula 5000 (1968-1978): T140 | T190 | T300 | T330 | T332 | T400 | T430
Formula Ford (1970-1984): T200 | T340 | T440 | T540 | T580 | T640 | T680 |
Formula Vee/Super Vee (1971-1979): T250 | T320 | T620 | T720
Formula Atlantic / Formula B (1972-1981): T242 | T360 | T460 | T480 | T560 | T760 | T860
Formula Renault (1974-1977): T410 | T510
Formula 3000 / Formula Nippon (1985-now): T950 | T86/50 | T87/50 | T88/50 | T89/50 | T90/50 | T91/50 | T92/50 | T93/50 | T94/50 | T95/50 | T96/50 | B99/50 | B02/50 | B06/51
Indy Lights (1993-1997): T93/20 | T94/20 | T95/20 | T96/20 | T97/20
Mexican F3000 (1996): Lola T96/70
A1 Grand Prix (2005-2008): A1GP auto
Auto GP (2010-now): Lola B05/52
“Powered by Ferrari” auto (200809 onwards)
The new A1 GP “Powered by Ferrari” vehicle.
On July 22, 2008, new information regarding the new “Powered by Ferrari” A1GP automobile was revealed.
Chassis
The chassis is based on the Formula One Ferrari F2004 chassis. It is made from carbon-fibre skins with an aluminium honeycomb core, and has been tested to meet all FIA crash safety standards.
Engine
The Ferrari engine utilised in the new A1GP cars.
The engine is built by Ferrari. It is a 4.5-litre Ferrari/Maserati V8 engine capable of delivering 600 bhp (450 kW) in PowerBoost mode. The new engine weighs 160 kg, 40 kg much more than the previously-utilized Zytek engines.
Configuration: 90 degree V8
Displacement: 4500 cc
Width: 666.5 mm
Height: 446 mm
Length: 569 mm
Weight: 160 kg
Cylinder block: Die cast aluminium alloy
Cylinder head: Sand cast aluminium alloy
Valvetrain: 4 overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder
Engine Management: Bosch MED 9.6
Injection: Gasoline direct injection
Spark plugs: NGK
Fuel: Shell E10 102 RON
Max Torque: 406 ftlbf (550 Nm)
Max power: 600 bhp (448 kW)
PowerBoost
Every auto is equipped with a unique PowerBoost system, a mechanism to supply short bursts of increased power to create extra overtaking opportunities and action throughout the race. By changing the engine parameters, the system can give the driver extra power over a limited time during every race to take the vehicle from the base 540 bhp (400 kW) to its maximum power of 600 bhp (450 kW).
The PowerBoost is driver-activated by a button mounted on the steering wheel. The driver will be able to use it for a brief period and for a set number of times in the course of the Sprint (4 times) and Feature races (8 times), and could use it for the entirety of a single lap during Qualifying.
Tyres
Michelin is the exclusive tyre supplier for the next three seasons beginning with the 200809 season.
The designs stem from Formula 1 technologies that seek to provide both optimal performance and safety to the driver. Full rubber serration tests had been performed on numerous tracks such as Fiorano, Imola, Jerez and Mugello resulting in an optimal compromise between grip, endurance and wear.
Technical specifications
Weight: Approx 700 kg which includes driver, race ready (excluding fuel)
Front and rear suspension: Double wishbone with pushrod operated coil over damper units. Adjustable ride height, cambers and toe, adjustable anti-dive and anti-squat to optimise drive control
Anti-roll bar: Multi adjustable, fast change front and rear roll bars
Chassis: Carbon fibre skins, aluminium honeycomb core. Tested to meet all applicable FIA crash safety standards
Bodywork: Light weight composite bodywork
Gearbox: Six-speed longitudinal sequential. Gear selection via a Magneti Marelli paddle shift system
Drive line: Tripod jointed driveshafts
Brakes: Brembo carbon discs, six-pot aluminium calipers
Dampers: Penske VBP-45, two-way adjustable
Wheels: Front 13 dia. X 12 Rear 13 dia. X 14
Steering: Titan angle drive bevel and two-pinion ratio
Steering wheel: 280 mm diameter carbon, with mounted LCD dash
Instrumentation and display: Magneti Marelli mounted display unit; Multi-channel logging facility for engineering analysis
Seat belt: FIA approved SABELT six-point safety harness
Fuel cell: ATL fuel cell approximately 150-litres capacity and designed to take up to 50 per cent ethanol
Clutch: AP 3-plate carbon/carbon with steel hub
Tyres: Michelin control slick and treaded wet tyres
References
^ A1 GP Car regulations: Bodywork[dead link]
^ Write-up from a1gp.com about Ferrari
^ (in Portugese). http://autosport.aeiou.pt/gen.pl?p=stories&op=view&fokey=as.stories/66146. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
^ . Euro Formula 3000. 2009-03-06. http://www.euroseries3000.com/new/news.asp?id=579. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
^ “The Kind Numbers”. Lola Heritage. http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/history/kind.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
^ “A1 GP Car regulations: Chassis”. Web.archive.org. http://web.archive.org/web/20061206125226/http://www.a1gp.com/racing/rules/index.php?areaid=1&childID=6. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
^ “A1 GP engine spec”. Formula3.cc. http://www.formula3.cc/EngineSpecification.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
^ A1 GP Car regulations: Dimensions[dead link]
^ A1 Grand Prix Vehicle regulations[dead link]
^ The A1GP Powered by Ferrari car a1gp.com (July 22, 2008)
^ “Teams to get joker qualifying lap”. a1gp.com. 2008-11-21. http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=42564. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
Categories: A1 Grand Prix | Open wheel racing carsHidden categories: All articles with dead external links | Articles with dead external links from October 2009
