Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus didn’t leave anything to the last minute with the SCG 003C, and the team was pretty much ready to hit the Ring on Tuesday already. Yet that doesn’t mean they didn’t strip both cars bare naked numerous times for some final adjustments before the first practice laps, and I was there with my camera to get in their way. Engineering porn.
The problem with motor shows like Geneva or public unveilings like the one they held here on Wednesday is that you rarely get enough access to talk to the team and take a peek under those sexy body panels. They always hide something interesting.
It was amazing to see how excited everybody was once the SCG 003C hit the stage, but in a crowd like this, you don’t get a chance to figure out how such a stunning machine works.
The team made a few changes to the SCG 003C with the Nordschleife in mind. They cut new vents at the rear, made a new FIA-approved seat that’s not only way more comfortable than the original was but can also withstand a 3,000 pound impact.
There’s a new pipe directing fresh air into the cabin, and they also added canards to the front for more downforce since they had a hairy moment before and with the speed limits established after that tragic accident, they don’t have to do 300+ km/h anymore.
Apparently, their biggest challenge was to sort out the oiling of the engine, because despite having a dry sump system, the high cornering forces could outsmart the original setup. Oil cooling had to be improved as well, but by the time they got here, the only question mark on the list was why they can’t bleed out the hydraulic steering pump properly. It’s nothing serious, but can cause some vibration in certain situations. If that mystery remains unsolved until tomorrow, so be it.
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James Glickenhaus is clearly a speed addict, but he also seems to be obsessed with safety. The first sign of that on the SCG003C is the pair of cameras built into the rearview mirror, which actually allows the driver to see on the dash who’s coming from behind.
There’s an external fuel level gauge as well to prevent splashing flammables all over the car, but as I looked more and more into the car, I saw even more features that are there to save a life.
See that greenish wheel arch liner? It’s made of Kevlar and it’s bulletproof, meaning that if there’s a tire blowout at full throttle, all pieces of those 18-inch Dunlops will stay out of the cockpit.
It’s unbelievably thin.
The carbon fiber side members on the other hand are thick as a bratwurst. Even if these parts break eventually, they will soak up plenty of energy before to make a real difference.
Don’t forget, this isn’t just a carbon fiber tub. The subframe is CFRP too, and everything bolts on beautifully to make this an easy car to work on.
Other serious carbon fiber pieces include the rear diffuser, which is something you won’t get on the street car.
How about more carbon fiber? Yeah, let’s have more carbon fiber!
If somebody decides to follow Chris Ruud’s lead and want to race an SCG 003C, they make all the blueprints available so that spare parts can be made on the spot without even contacting Glickenhaus.
What isn’t composite is custom machined metal of the highest grade. With a matt finish and the SCG 003C logo plus the part number printed on, these are not your average off the shelf racing components.
The brains is hidden behind the passenger seat, a let me tell you that Bosch Motorsport made a unique ECU just for these two cars. Clearly not just for the money, but because they think SCG is a good team to be a part of.
Those computers and chunky cables manage the Honda-based and Autotecnica Motori-built twin-turbo V6 and the Hewland gearbox, which is a manual with pneumatic paddle shifters.
Both of them are exposed of course. The SCG 003C is for people who know how to work on a car, or at least pay some people who have those skills. Everything is easy to reach as long as you know which tool to pick up, and how to use it.
Inside, the drivers got their new seats which is a huge improvement and a crucial part of the package, plus a toolkit with the bare essentials and a map to make sure nobody gets lost.
The Scuderia colors on the steering wheel are a nice touch too.
So the there we were, with both cars signed off and the drivers eager to drive after lunch, ready for the first practice.
They went out.
Then they came back in.
This happened quite a few times, but I guess you’re more interested in how it went.
I’ll let James Glickenhaus (Batmobile) and Chris Ruud (Warplane) answer that:
Game on Audi!
Photo credit: Máté Petrány/Jalopnik
Contact the author at mate@jalopnik.com.