Allard J2X-C
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John Iley (aerodynamics)
| Category | Group C | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Allard | ||||||||
| Designers | Hayden Burvill John Iley (aerodynamics) | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb two-piece monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone suspension, with push-rod actuated coil springs over dampers | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone suspension, with push-rod actuated coil springs over dampers | ||||||||
| Length | 4,799 mm (188.9 in) | ||||||||
| Width | 2,000 mm (78.7 in) | ||||||||
| Height | 920 mm (36.2 in) | ||||||||
| Axle track | 1,620 mm (63.8 in) front 1,582 mm (62.3 in) rear | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,850 mm (112.2 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Nicholson McLaren Engines-prepared Cosworth DFR, 3,494 cc (213.2 cu in) 32 valve, DOHC V8, naturally-aspirated mid-engined, longitudinally mounted[2] | ||||||||
| Transmission | Modified Leyton House-March Engineering 6-speed sequential manual | ||||||||
| Weight | 860 kg (1,896.0 lb) | ||||||||
| Tyres | BF Goodrich Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Bob Pond Racing | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | Robs Lamplough | ||||||||
| Debut | 1993 IMSA GTP Championship Laguna Seca Raceway | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Teams' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Allard J2X-C, or the Allard J2X as it is sometimes referred to, was a Group C sports racing car built by Allard in 1992 for use in international sports car racing events. It featured a 3.5-litre Cosworth DFR V8 engine, capable of producing around 580 hp (432.5 kW; 588.0 PS). The J2X-C had bodywork that is more reminiscent of modern Le Mans Prototypes than a conventional Group C car, but the engine proved too weak for the level of downforce, and this, coupled with the fact that Allard Holdings were liquidated during the car's development, severely restricted the J2X and prevented it ever reaching its potential. One car was built.
In the 1980s, Chris Humberstone, licensed the rights to the Allard name from Alan Allard, the son of the company's founder, Sidney.[3] After a few years of wrangling, the company hired Hayden Burvill from Brun Technics to begin developing the J2X-C.[3] He was joined in 1991 by John Iley, who was hired as the aerodynamicist, and the car was designed to have as little frontal area as possible, giving it a unique look.[3] Although it was originally planned to use a Chevrolet small block-derived V8 engine,[3] the car was instead fitted with a 3.5-litre Cosworth DFR V8 engine, derived from a Formula One engine, which produced about 580 hp (432.5 kW; 588.0 PS) of power and 400 lb⋅ft (542.3 N⋅m; 55.3 kg⋅m) of torque.[1] The gearbox was also from an F1 car: a Leyton House-March Engineering 6-speed sequential manual transmission modified for endurance racing.[1] This transmission would prove to be problematic throughout the car's lifetime.[3]
The J2X-C used double wishbone suspension, with push-rod actuated coil springs over dampers at both ends of the car;[2] the front suspension was mounted on the carbon-fibre monocoque, whilst the rear suspension was mounted to a carbon-fibre sub-structure that had been designed to allow quick transmission replacement.[4] The car's radical bodywork generated a high amount of downforce; it was calculated to give approximately 5,500 lb (2,495 kg) of downforce at 150 mph (241 km/h), and 9,778 lb (4,435 kg) at 200 mph (322 km/h).[3] However, some of the more conventional cars were able to match this level of downforce; the works Toyota TS-010s had a claimed maximum downforce of over 9,500 lb (4,309 kg), for example.[3] It was, however, higher than the works Nissan R91CP, which had a claimed maximum of 6,438 lb (2,920 kg) at 200 mph (322 km/h),[5] whilst the 1993 Joest-Porsche 962C had a claimed maximum of 5,584 lb (2,533 kg) at 200 mph (322 km/h).[6]