Alpine A110 Cup: a genuine race car made for Europe’s greatest racetracks

Alpine A110 Cup: a genuine race car made for Europe’s greatest racetracks

Alpine A110 Cup: a genuine race car made for Europe’s greatest racetracks

World Rally Champion in 1973, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978 and World Champion in the LMP2 class in last season’s FIA WEC, Alpine’s success in motorsport has earned it a special place in the heart of racing fans. The Brand has also spawned interest and enthusiasm in many amateur drivers, keen to enjoy themselves behind the wheel of attractive, light and agile cars. It is very much in this spirit and in respecting this tradition that Alpine decided to create the A110 Cup, which will make its track debut in 2018.

To ensure this new adventure is a success, Alpine entrusted Signatech with the design, development, production and sales of the A110 Cup. The organisation headed by Philippe Sinault, which is responsible for operating the Alpine A470s in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), also has extensive experience in the development of customer racing products.

In conjunction with the engineers who devised the production car, Signatech designed the racing version with a primary target: provide the drivers with as much enjoyment as possible, whether they are beginners or experienced.

Armed with a precise chassis, a 270hp engine for a weight of 1,050kg (3.9kg/hp), uncompromising safety features and the kind of on-board electronics commonly seen an Endurance prototype, the Alpine A110 Cup promises to deliver effectiveness and performance.

On sale at a price of €100,000 excl. tax, the Alpine A110 Cup will be taking part in a competition combining rigour and professionalism with a friendly, warm approach. Organised by Signatech over six rounds in 2018, the Alpine Europa Cup will visit six of the greatest racetracks in Europe. This FIA international series recalls the Europa Cup held between 1985 and 1988 with the Alpine GTA V6 Turbo.

Drivers keen to take part in the Alpine Europa Cup should express their interest soon since production will be limited to little more than twenty cars for the first season.

An accomplished race car

The quest for a precise and efficient chassis

Built at Alpine’s Dieppe plant, the Alpine A110 Cup’s monocoque chassis has been modified to adapt the suspension geometry, reduce ride height (-40mm), provide mounting points for the roll cage and adapt the rigidity to racing requirements, especially as regards the level of grip procured by slick tyres. The design has also been managed as part of a partnership between Signatech and Renault Sport Racing, who provided their expertise and calculation facilities to the project.

In the engine compartment, these modifications resulted in the fitting of specific side members. Connected to the rear part of the roll cage, these magnificently-sculpted aluminium components, machined from a solid block of metal, enable the mounting point of the upper wishbones to be raised. The lower wishbones are attached to the two joint-welded half-subframes supporting the powertrain.

At the front, these modifications have resulted in the fitting of a joint-welded subframe and attachment plates for the upper wishbones.

Supplied by Öhlins, the four spring-shock absorbers are compression- and rebound-adjustable.

Like the production car, the Alpine A110 Cup comes fitted with Michelin tyres. Slick and treaded tyres are designed to provide the best compromise between performance and durability.

No compromise on safety

Very careful attention has been paid to the active and passive safety features of the Alpine A110 Cup. In order to meet the challenge of integrating a roll cage on an aluminium chassis, the engineers and technicians came up with an ingenious technical solution. During assembly of the monocoque at the Dieppe plant, steel plates are built into the structure, fixed by gluing and then bolting, and protected by an e-coat. These plates are then used as mounting points for the steel tubes that ensure the safety of the driver.

Ready to race, the Alpine A110 Cup comes fitted with a set of premium safety features: specific Sabelt bucket seat with built-in head restraints, six-point HANS-compatible harness, automatic fire extinguisher, dry battery, master switch, etc.

Like the production Alpine A110, the braking system is supplied by Brembo. Machined from a single piece of magnesium, the state-of-the-art six-piston callipers hold imposing ventilated discs, 355mm in diameter at the front and 330mm at the rear. The Alpine A110 Cup is equipped with ABS and traction control systems, which may be adjusted or disabled.

Specially-designed gearbox and production engine

Under the bonnet, the Alpine A110 Cup is powered by the production car’s 1.8-litre turbocharged direct injection engine. Fitted with an air filter and an exhaust specially designed for racing, the power of the Cup has been upped to 270hp (+18hp) with its torque maintained at 320Nm.

Electronic management is provided by a state-of-the-art Magneti-Marelli SRG 140 ECU, which also incorporates the engine and chassis data acquisition system.

The engine is mated with a six-speed sequential gearbox, specifically developed as part of a partnership between Signatech and 3MO. It is equipped with a limited slip, self-locking differential.

Welcome on board!

The Alpine A110 Cup cabin has been devised to provide drivers with as much pleasure and comfort as possible. Securely settled in the Sabelt bucket seat with a built-in head restraint, the driver is faced with an XAP steering wheel, specifically developed for the Alpine A110 Cup and inspired by the one used on the Alpine A470.

Like every other component on the car, this steering wheel features a perceived quality scarcely found on similar race cars. It features paddle gearshift controls, a digital instrument panel and a variety of useful control switches (steering mapping, traction control and ABS, pit limiter, radio, drink feed, etc.)

The adjustable pedal box and steering column help adapt the driving position to suit all shapes and sizes of driver. The Alpine A110 Cup keeps the original air-conditioning system and allows for a second bucket seat to be fitted without modification for track experiences.

An intens development programme

After completing its first track outing, the Alpine A110 Cup will undergo a major testing and development programme. FIA WEC Alpine drivers Nicolas Lapierre and Nelson Panciatici will work on the majority of the sessions, testing the car’s reliability and defining the basic set-up, which will then be communicated to all customers.

In order to obtain a product that is as versatile as possible, other drivers – both professionals and amateurs – will be asked to take part in testing on a wide variety of tracks: Jerez, Magny-Cours, Motorland Aragón, Valencia, Portimao, Navarra, etc. Signatech’s target is to complete at least 7,500km of testing, the equivalent of three full seasons in the Alpine Europa Cup.

courtesy: media.group.renault.com

Innovative technology for a new legend: the new BMW M8 GTE

Innovative technology for a new legend: the new BMW M8 GTE

Innovative technology for a new legend: the new BMW M8 GTE

BMW Motorsport presented its new top-of-the-range model for the international GT racing scene at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main: the BMW M8 GTE. Before the BMW 8 Series Coupé goes on sale, the race car will compete on the track next season, including in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). It is with this series that BMW Motorsport will also make its return to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA). As such, the BMW M8 GTE will be associated with both innovative, cutting-edge technology and decades of motorsport tradition. At the IAA, the new car was on display in a BMW M Motorsport livery, designed especially for this occasion, providing a visual taste of things to come in 2018. It reflects the close relationship between the development of production vehicles and motorsport, and once again underlines the degree, to which BMW Motorsport and BMW M belong together.

The BMW M8 GTE enjoyed a successful roll-out on 1st July 2017 at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing (GER) – the very place where the production model of the new BMW 8 Series will be manufactured. The close link between production and motor racing is one of the cornerstones of the development of the BMW M8 GTE. The knowledge gained from race outings with the new car in the FIA WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) in North America will be directly incorporated in the development of the production model, which is running parallel to the motorsport project.

“The BMW M8 GTE is our new GT flagship and will go head to head with the strong opposition in this sector,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “For us, the presentation of the uncamouflaged car at the IAA is the next important step on the road to our first race outing, which we plan to be the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2018. The FIA WEC and the IMSA series in North America are a top competitive environment for our new challenger. With the BMW M8 GTE, we are bringing cutting-edge technology to the top international class of GT racing, whilst at the same time tying in with our tradition at Le Mans. The development of the BMW M8 GTE is on schedule, and we can hardly wait to see the car challenging for victories in 2018.”

Innovative technology for a new legend: the new BMW M8 GTE

A new degree of efficiency.
The V8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology, which is restricted by regulations to a capacity of 4.0 litres, has a nominal base output of more than 500 hp, depending on the classification. The cylinder block and cylinder head are taken from the production engine and are produced in the light alloy foundry at the BMW Group plant in Landshut (GER). The focus of the development work is on achieving the greatest possible efficiency and maximum durability. The powerful production engine provides the perfect basis. The power transmission in the BMW M8 GTE takes place via a sequential, six-speed racing gearbox.

Artificial intelligence gives engineers greater freedom.
“Virtual development” plays a central role in the development of the BMW M8 GTE. For example, the traction control is being developed with the assistance of an artificial intelligence system. Topology optimisation with 3D printing gives the engineers far greater freedom in their search for innovative and creative solutions for the design of the car. Rapid prototyping also allows them to take delivery of a new part, as a usable prototype, just 24 hours after the virtual development.

Motor racing and production go hand in hand – design similarities.
Racing and production engineers closely worked together within the framework of the BMW M8 GTE project. For instance, consistent lightweight design also plays a crucial role in the development of the new GT sports car. A significant weight reduction is achieved through the extensive use of ultra-light CFRP components. At a length of 4,980 mm and a width of 2,046 mm, the car weighs just 1,220 kilograms. The design of the BMW M8 GTE also reflects the close relationship to the BMW 8 Series and the BMW M8. This is particularly apparent in the same roof line and the design of the front and rear lights.

Peak performance in aerodynamics development.
Work on the aerodynamics of a new race car is as time-consuming as it is indispensable. As such, it is all the more important for the BMW engineers to be able to work on the chassis of the BMW M8 GTE with maximum efficiency from the outset. A new algorithm allows a significant increase in CFD calculations, thus making it possible to use greater computing power to clearly increase the number of possible simulations, before progressing to the wind tunnel. Here, BMW Motorsport uses synergies with production development and benefits from the perfect test conditions in the BMW Group Aero Lab. One of the results of the aero development is innovative aero rims, which will be presented as a concept at the IAA.

Latest 3D measurement technology in use.
The close interdependence between production and motorsport development continues in another two important areas: the same 3D measurement technology that was used on the BMW M4 DTM, which made its first race outing in 2017, is also used on the BMW M8 GTE. The ultra-modern measurement system from the BMW production development department provides the perfect quality control once the race car has been assembled. With such a complex car as the BMW M8 GTE, which is built completely by hand, it is essential that all the dimensions are correctly adhered to and implemented.

Long history of BMW Motorsport in Le Mans.
BMW Motorsport returns to Le Mans with the FIA WEC in 2018. The last time a BMW race car featured on the grid was back in 2011, with the BMW M3 GT2. One year prior to that, the Jeff Koons’ (USA) BMW M3 GT2 Art Car had caught the eye, as it wrote the latest chapter in the story of the BMW Art Car Collection at Le Mans. Among the BMW Art Cars that had started previously at Le Mans were Alexander Calder’s (USA, 1975) BMW 3.0 CSL, the BMW 320i designed by Roy Lichtenstein (USA, 1977) and Andy Warhol’s (USA, 1979) BMW M1.

BMW Motorsport’s greatest sporting hour in Le Mans came in 1999, when Yannick Dalmas (FRA), Joachim Winkelhock (GER) and Pierluigi Martini (ITA) took overall victory in a BMW V12 LMR. The McLaren F1 GTR, powered by a BMW engine, had previously triumphed at the “Circuit de la Sarthe” in 1995.

The first time a BMW car started at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was back in 1939, when a BMW 328 claimed a class victory after 236 laps of racing. After 1972, BMW cars regularly lined up at the endurance classic.

courtesy: www.press.bmwgroup.com