3D Scanning: The Key to Be Within Regulations and Ahead on the Racetrack

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship features North America’s fastest and most technologically advanced cars. Only outstanding endurance car manufacturers can compete on the racetrack and stand on the podium. It is in this competitive environment that Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti (WTRAndretti) thrives with the Acura ARX-06 GTP.

Whether to improve the car’s aerodynamics or make the driver’s experience more comfortable in the cockpit, WTRAndretti’s engineers have decided to trust and rely on Creaform’s expertise and technology. And this strategic partnership is at work once again.

The Dual Forces of Innovation and Regulation

As motorsport evolves, technical regulations are also becoming more stringent. Stricter rules and standards impact the work of design and engineering teams by defining aerodynamic features and the car’s weight and dimensions. For this reason, engineers must have access to reliable data on the car’s aerodynamic body.

Aerodynamics: No1 Factor for the Car’s Design

The car’s design, structure, and performance are closely tied to aerodynamics, which is governed by strict regulations that allow only limited alterations. This means the engineering team at WTRAndretti must be meticulous in what they present. The challenge now becomes how close they can get to the exact, perfect model that can provide maximum downforce.

The Aerodynamic Consequences of Wear

During endurance racing, the car is constantly changing over 24 hours. This means that wear can significantly impact the aerodynamics of the Acura ARX-06 GTP, leading to a degradation of aerodynamic efficiency, and impacting the car’s speed, stability, and fuel efficiency. Consequently, the technical team must monitor and manage wear effectively to maintain optimal aerodynamic performance throughout the race.

It is here that Creaform’s 3D scanning solutions contribute to the success of WTRAndretti by maintaining optimal aerodynamic performance throughout the race. The 3D scanners allow the team to scan the car before and after the race, providing crucial data for analyzing the body’s evolution and making necessary adjustments.

 “We have challenges much bigger than we thought. If we hadn’t been involved with Creaform, I think we would have been frustrated really early on. The race car, it’s not a perfect object. Every time it goes on track, it changes slightly.”

-Brian Pillar, Technical Director, WTRAndretti

Creaform 3D Scanning Solutions To Be Within Regulations…

Engineers must ensure that the car bodywork remains within the stringent guidelines set forth by racing regulations. To achieve this, they regularly use a combination of rigorous verification processes:

• Simulation and Modeling: Utilize computer-aided design (CAD) tools to simulate and model the car’s aerodynamics and structural integrity within regulatory constraints.
• Tolerance Checks: Measure and verify that all parts and assemblies are within the allowable tolerances specified by the regulations.
• Physical Inspections: Perform detailed physical inspections and measurements of the car body to confirm compliance.
• Quality Control: Implement stringent quality control processes during manufacturing to ensure components meet specifications.

3D scanners, such as the MetraSCAN 3D, are the right fit for this type of verification. They can measure the entire bodywork with a simple scan without neglecting any small cracks. This way, the technical team can see if the car’s body is within regulations and how closely it aligns with the CAD model, instilling a sense of confidence in the accuracy of the data.

Creaform Software Platform VXelements: All-in-One Tool

Then comes the contribution of VXelements, the 3D data acquisition modules and application suite, which is the all-in-one tool for:

• Scanning
• Comparing with the CAD model
• Inspecting quality
• Making models

 “VXelements is where we can take a car that we just assembled for the race, scan it, put it into VXinpsect with the CAD model, make a colormap, and see where there is a need for adjusting. Then, we can go back, make those adjustments, scan it again, and make sure we show up to the race knowing that all the bodywork in the car is within regulations.”

-Grayson Heinbaugh, Lead Engineer, WTRAndretti

…And Ahead on the Racetrack

By combining technological innovation, aerodynamic efficiency, and compliance with regulations, WTRAndretti has always stayed competitive and ahead on the racetrack. With its strategic partnership with Creaform, whose 3D technologies are always leading-edge, victories and championships are likely to continue, reinforcing the power of collaboration in motorsport engineering.

After all, that is the very essence of endurance racing: the ability for both humans and machines to adapt to a myriad of challenges, where consistency, reliability, and teamwork are as important as speed.