2018 Advanced technology of STI to explore from race vol.4
I can not wait for the opening of 2018 Super GT, but I had him interviewed the production site of Subaru STI ‘s entry machine BRZ. In the last few years, the SUBARU BRZ R & D SPORT team is in a tough situation with not only machines such as restrictors, handicap weights, gasoline refueling speed restrictions, but overall performance adjustments, but what kind of machine will you finish in 2018? We asked Mr. Minoru Sawada of the team’s technical coordinator. ＜Report: Editorial department＞
When telling the status of the team first, in the machine regulation of GT 300, using machines manufactured under the GT 3 vehicle regulations, which are considered global common categories, and machines manufactured under JAF – GT 300 regulations are mixed. For the JAF – GT 300, there is a JAF – GT 300 machine that is completely original with the team using the mother chassis sold by the GT Association, and it is made according to the regulations, BRZ is a completely original JAF – GT 300 machine that does not use mother chassis. It is the R & D SPORT that produces that machine, and has participated in a team system that STI is in charge of engine and transmission.
The team system of 2018 was announced on February 9th, but the general manager is responsible for STI’s Makoto Shibuya Project General Manager, which is responsible for R & D SPORT in charge of team management.
■Body shape change
Well, where was the BRZ in 2018 changed? You can shoot a machine in a situation that has not been announced yet.I will tell you so.
First, aerodynamic changes were made and the cowl design changed. It is a noticeable change that the shape of the front and rear fender of the body cowl has changed. It is also the ultimate theme of racing cars in a sense by designing not to reduce downforce while reducing air resistance as well as aim of shape change.
At point, the front cowl of the BRZ is changing the canal and fender change, changing the way of the wind flowing to the upper part of the body, and changing the way the rear wing has a better influence. Also, the rear fender changed the part that flows to the upper part and the way of the wind that flows to the rear. Particularly, from the upper part of the rear fender to the rear end, it has changed greatly to the shape of the down slope.
The design was designed by STI, designed with a high goal that it does not reduce downforce while reducing drugs, and tested in a wind tunnel laboratory in Subaru’s Gunma plant. As a result, it is said that we can measure the targeted value, but from now on it will be necessary to consider including driver’s checks in the pre-season test.
It is explained that the 18-year body design became the target specification, so it is definitely a better result than 17 years, and it is also important to consider the setting that made use of aerodynamics for the race . Hopefully, expectations will result in good results.
■Changing the brake
According to Sawada, Mr. Sawada said that the brake was a long-awaited issue and I wanted to make more time to get the brakes by the brake, although I had an unexpected retirement in the final game of 17 years. He said that he changed it.
The size of the front brake was increased from 380 mm to 390 mm, and the caliper was changed accordingly. Mr. Sawada believes that you must compete more with brakes. Brake parts manufacturers also changed from AP to Brembo. Although it was supposed that the manufacturer of the manufacturer adopting it as a mass vheicle car was good, in order to win in the race, as a result of seeing matching with various elements, it was said to be made by Brembo.
On the other hand, the rear brake did not become a problem in particular, so there is no change, but in order to match with the front brake, the manufacturer is changed to Brembo. However, there is no size change.
■Change of suspension
As you know, the suspension consists of a spring, a shock absorber, and a geometry, but this is also a key. These constituent elements are changed every time the race changes, and I have repeated the work of searching for the best matching, but it seems that the search for such matching will be the center this season as well.
Of course, with tires, I will use Dunlop tires as well as 17 years. Tire size is also regulated by 330 (width) / 710 (diameter) R18 (wheel diameter), the GT 300 is unified. However, even if the size is the same, there are many different specs including the compound, so it is a point to look for a suspension setting that can provide the best performance for the mounted tire.
Shock absorbers are OHLINS, Spring is HYPERCO and there is no change. However, since the aerodynamic performance has been changed as described above, the downforce of course also differs and the setting ripening is an important item.
According to Ms. Sawada, qualifying for BRZ is powerfully tough among the GT 300 with large displacement, but it is running quite fast. It is because it is possible to run alone, and it is because there are limited cases in which it is possible to run a record line because it does not lead to a result in the race. In other words, it is a competition with rivals, GT 500 machines are also running mixed, so there are things that can be lost from the record line. It’s an ideal setting that gives you the best time even when you do.
In other words, it can be said that making a machine with a wide record line width is possible, and it is difficult to win the race with a peacious reed like the engine. And we can imagine that there is not a simple answer like this, to do a wider record line.
“It is the ultimate ideal of a race car, it is an eternal theme,” Mr. Sawada says, but conversely “I believe that fans are supporting us by challenging the eternal theme, I think that I have to look for it, and I have tried a lot of new things so far, but in many cases I was not good at all, but I have to find out while repeating such things.”
BRZ is still saying that there is a range that can be challenged. However, since the frame is continuous use, there is no fundamental change. As we use the original pipe frame this season again, we will earn with suspension setting, aerodynamics and brakes. Although it might be settled if there is the most power, it may be solved by BOP of performance adjustment and fuel limiter and 30 kg of handicap weight sometimes installed, and only 1180 kg plus 1150 kg of vehicle regulation, easy yes It does not. At the moment, it is undecided whether the fuel restrictor and handicap weight are the same as 17 years, and it is also a state waiting for judgment from the GTA.
By the way, we converted to transaxle in 17 years, but as a benefit there is a change in front / back weight distribution from 52:48 to 51:49. Although this difference is only 1 point difference, it seems to be different at all. We expect that merit will be utilized to the greatest extent in 18 years.
Finally, as for the engine and transmission which are the power unit, we plan a report next month. Also, on February 22, the first shake-down test of this term will be held at Fuji Speedway. It is also an announcement of the new aerodynamic design. And since the official test will be held at Okayama International Circuit and Fuji Speedway in March before the opening season, we are looking forward to seeing what kind of change will be the result of these changes.
■Cockpit Commentary
Steering
Right blinker button on the upper right orange
Under that is green team radio. Talk while pushing.
Bottom blue button wiper switch
The volume of yellow adjusts the effect of anti-lag (ALS). It can be adjusted in 5 stages.
The left ON / OFF switch is a pit lane · limiter. ON is limited to 50 km / h.
Left blinker on the left upper orange
Under that yellow passing light
Pushing the right green and pulling the paddle makes it neutral.
The lower red button is ON / OFF of charge control, eliminating the electric resistance.
The right volume can change turbo boost characteristics in 3 steps, but do not change drivers much
Center console
Rain and Light in the upper row are for rain and regular headlight switch.
Lightning mark is a kill switch
Turn IG on with the main switch of the ignition, then start with the starter button below.
The second stage, the toggle switch written as PADDLE is the paddle’s power switch
EPS power steering power supply
BLOW is a front defroster
Cool power supply for cool switch
W / I is the power button of the cooling water pump
Lower row, ABS MAP can change intervention timing in 8 steps
T / C MAP 5-stage traction control
PADDLE MAP It is possible to change gear speed and strength of pushing dog in 6 stages
EPS MAP Adjustable characteristics of power steering 5 stages
Fr, Rr is a switch that can change soft, hard before and after the stabilizer
The two white nozzles on the bottom left corner, the driver’s cool suit and joint
＞ 2018 Advanced technology of STI to explore from race car
＊Supported by SUBARU TECNICA INTERNATIONAL
