Ever wondered what caused the Glickenhouse SCG300 Macchinadue to crash at the Nurburgring 24-hours practice session last week?
Well, the track appears to be damp, due to the unfavorable weather conditions, which probably caused the car to lose traction and snap-oversteer right into the wall.
It’s not uncommon for mid-engine cars with rear-wheel drive to loose traction in such a way. This type of oversteer occurs when the throttle is lifted while the car is cornering or mid-way through a corner.
Basically, it’s all about weight transfer; after the throttle has been lifted through a corner (power-on to power-off), the vertical load pressing on the rear tires decreases and causes them and the car to lose traction.
Because their lower rotation inertia, vehicles with this kind of set-up (mid-engine, rwd) are prone to spin much faster. Weight distribution, engine and drivetrain layout, suspension and chassis setup and tire wear and pressure; all have an effect on the car’s handling characteristics while tackling a bend.
Of course, this type of oversteer will only happen when the car is driven close to its limits, but a wet track might also do the trick. Especially if you have 530 BHP giving momentum to the rear of the car and pressing on the tires.
The accident happened at the Kesselchen section of the Nurburgring at over 200 km/h (124mph) but the driver, Ken Dobson, escaped unharmed.