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Porsche Rally Racing Proto D4S
Saturday, 29, April, 2023 – Porsche Experience Circuit Franciacorta (BS) – Italy
Unleashing the Power: The Porsche Rally Racing Proto D4S
Get ready to embark on a journey of adrenaline-fueled excitement as we unveil the extraordinary Porsche Rally Racing Proto D4S. On Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Porsche Experience Circuit Franciacorta in Italy, witness the prowess of this unique prototype designed to dominate the ice racing scene.
History: A Prototype Born to Conquer
Crafted from the visionary concept of Dr. Eng. Sergio Durante and a team of skilled engineers, including Dr. Eng. Mauro Comoglio and Dr. Eng. Anja Praturlon, the Porsche Rally Racing Proto D4S made its debut in 2011 at the Kohl Motorsport Fair in Cologne, Germany. Sponsored by Concurrent Engineering, HAAS, and K&N, it emerged as a technological marvel.
From 2012 to 2013, this beast roared through international championships, clinching fourth place in the Ice Series and Ice Challenge against formidable opponents from the Andros Ice Racing Championship. It showcased its prowess in uphill races, notably securing first place in the prototype category at the Cesana-Sestriere. The years 2014-2018 witnessed triumphs in the Ronde Invernale and Winter Sprint races in France, etching its name in history with two pole positions, two overall victories, and a circuit record.
After a hiatus since 2019, the car has awakened from its slumber, gracing the brand new Porsche Experience Circuit of Franciacorta in Brescia with its exceptional presence.
Specifications: The Epitome of Performance
The Porsche Rally Racing Proto D4S is not just a car; it’s a masterpiece of engineering. Built entirely by D4S Motorsport, it boasts a rollbar welded to FIA safety standards, Sparco seats, Sabelt six-point racing belts, and an FIA-approved racing fire extinguisher. The bodywork is a symphony of lightweight materials, including Full Carbon Kevlar doors and hood, contributing to its aerodynamic prowess.
Under the hood, a meticulously prepared engine delivers an exhilarating sound reminiscent of an F1 engine. The racing gearbox, front and rear differentials, and custom suspension showcase the meticulous attention to detail, offering unparalleled control and performance.
Certified Characteristics: Engineering Marvel
Every inch of the Porsche Rally Racing Proto D4S is a testament to innovation. With a hybrid bodywork featuring carbon fiber, aluminum, steel, Kevlar fiber, and titanium, this prototype stands as a technological marvel. The cockpit is a blend of Alcantara, aluminum, and carbon fiber, housing bucket seats, a high-strength steel rollbar, and reinforcements.
Equipped with a variety of tires and rims for different racing conditions, this car is adaptable to any challenge. The meticulously crafted engine, cooling system, injection, and electronic ignition ensure optimal performance on the track.
Bringing the Future to the Circuit: The Porsche-D4S Hybrid General Electrical System
The Porsche Rally Racing Proto D4S doesn’t just break records; it sets a new standard for hybrid electrical systems. Blending Porsche’s legacy with D4S innovation, this system ensures peak performance, reinforcing the prototype’s status as a trailblazer in the world of racing.
Prepare to be mesmerized as the Porsche Rally Racing Proto D4S takes center stage, rewriting the rules of racing and setting the course for a thrilling future in motorsports.**
Vehicle certified characteristics
Hybrid bodywork in carbon fibre, aluminium, steel, Kevlar fibre, titanium
Crystals and windshield in super light Lexan, anti-reflection coating, water repellent coating, Porsche multilayer glass windshield
Internal conditions Alcantara, aluminium, carbon fibre, bucket seats, six-point belts, high-strength steel rollbar, reinforcements.
Tyres: 4 sets of tires and rims: slick, rain, snow and ice racing studded, various sizes from 16 to 18″ Those fitted with slicks, Michelin 18″ sizes, 19″ rain, 16″ ice racing. The rims are original Porsche 5-spoke aluminum equilibrated.
Also original Porsche wheels are mounted on the slick tyres.
Engine: Prepared engine, direct intake, tuned exhaust, variable valve timing, lightened flywheel, reinforced clutch, rigid mounts;
Cooling system, radiator: Forced ventilation aluminum radiators
Injection and electronic ignition, configured for 98-100 octane petrol or special fuel up to 120 Octane
Handcrafted exhaust system tuned 2 x 3in1, X-pipe, direct
Double electric racing fuel pump, with cell racing tank
The gearboxes are all manual and beautifully lightened crafted in high strength steel, super finisheded and diamond DLC coated and other nanostrucured coatings.
Braking system with aeronautical tubes, (with the overheating of the oil, air bubbles are formed in the oil, with this equipment the heating and expansion of the tubes are reinforced in order to avoid loose of internal pressure, permitting long session at the maximum attack on the circuit), built ad hoc and customized just for this car, disengageable ABS, self-ventilating discs, racing pads.
Steering gear with Porsche power steering
Porsche power steering pump
Competition shock absorbers and suspension, Bilstein custom adjustable in
compression and rebound, adjustable height, mechanically adjustable
Porsche-D4S hybrid general electrical system
Ice Challenge 2023: D4S impressive results both in technology and sport!
2023: after years that we decided to support the fast growing International Championship Ice Challenge, we got excellent results, both from technology and sport point of view
Sergio Durante win for the third time and for the second consecutive year with a hybrid rally racing car.
The 2023 Ice Challenge season – International Ice Speed Championship is coming to an end.
A really difficult season from the weather point of view, with alternating very cold and very hot temperatures with humidity, the maximum stress for the innovative technologies brought into the field by Durante Space Tech.
With three rounds held, the season is therefore preparing to formalize in its Hall of Fame the verdicts of an exciting and captivating challenge with equally spectacular challenges.
Ivan Carmellino boasts of a new overall victory like Sergio Durante, Jean Claude Vallino and Simone Firenze respectively in the hybrid, SSV and 2WD car category.
“Thanks to the teams, the riders, the track managers – concluded BMG Motor Events and D4S Motorsport – to our staff, collaborators, sponsors and partners, to the accommodation facilities that have or should have hosted us. It’s hard to finish like this, but let’s go ahead and think about 2024 from today”.
5 races in Italy and France, new program to annex Austria and Finland in the next year, beautiful cars, famous drivers, television and internet covering.
These are just some of the motivation to push us to be involved in first person. Apart passion, of course…
Sergio Durante in action: photo by Alberto Caldani
The aerospace future is embracing the hybrid technology, but not as you think
Quick question
Why Full Electric is not yet competitive at all with conventional thermal engines? Simply because the energy density ratio between jet A1 fuel and the best battery in the market is 1 to 30. Means that the energy stored in a kg of jet fuel needs to be replaced with 30kg of battery. So the ‘fuel’ will weight 30 times the current one.
Quick conclusion
If we want to build a full electric airplane, and we expect to have the same range of a normal jet airplane replòacing the thermal engine with electric engine… simply we will build an airplane that cannot fly because its weight is over what it can lift up.
By the way
Some innovations are anyway possible, like the one we are bringing ahead, in order to increase the efficiency of the current state of the art, like using system able to convert all the energy wasted in heat, turbulences, and other in electric energy available for the services.
Stay tunes to know more….