Strakka Racing‘s 2015 Le Mans 24 Hour challenger will be on display at the Thinktank science museum in Birmingham from 28 July for the next six weeks.
The DOME S103 prototype features 3D printed parts that were used on track, made using a special printer from Stratasys.
“This project is a good example of how 3D printing could change the way we build racing cars,” said team principal Dan Walmsley.
“Strakka has shown that parts made on printers can be just as durable as normal pieces, but we can make them faster and without expensive tooling. We could even make new parts in the garage at the track.”
The team have been a pioneer in the application of 3D printing technology in motorsport as they use it to develop scale models for wind tunnel testing to parts that were used on track. It is estimated that 5 percent of pars on the S103 were 3D printed.
“It is fantastic to be able to display a race car that has had such an international impact to our Thinktank visitors this summer.” added Lisa Stallard, manager at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.
“Our iconic car and motorbike collections are always popular and by displaying the Le Mans car next to them we hope visitors will enjoy seeing the contrast between the technological changes.”
“We are always looking for ways to showcase how developments in the scientific world, like 3D printing technology, can have a positive impact and invoke change, and Strakka’s Le Mans car is a brilliant example of this happening in the automotive industry.”
The car will be on show from 28 July for six weeks at the Thinktank, an award-winning science museum in the centre of Birmingham.
Discover more about the exhibition here: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank
