Active Diffs - Where's the loss of performance?

[ST205GT4]

Was just looking back at some of the stage times for rallies from 04-07 and there has been next to no change in the winning times over the same stages.

If active diffs were so great how come their loss has had minimal impact on speeds?

I realise there have been advances in some other areas in the meantime, but there wasn't even a huge drop off in speed in the year right after they were banned.

[Daniel]

I can't say as I don't know but remember how Loeb was going to fall from the top because he wasn't able to drive without active diffs

[J4MIE]

I'm probably wrong but wasn't it only active centre diffs that were banned? So ront/rear still are?

[Daniel]

I'm probably wrong but wasn't it only active centre diffs that were banned? So ront/rear still are?

I think it's the other way around

*Edit* yup it is

http://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2...ringwheel.html

[ST205GT4]

Ha yeah he's really struggled since then!

[jonkka]

Basically the same performance is available from passive diffs. Active diffs just make testing much easier as those can be re-adjusted in a fraction of the time required by passive mechanical units. The performance gain on actual stages is dependent on how well the initial diff setup suits to the stage and road conditions plus active units can be adjusted on the fly. Theoretically, active car should have some performance advantage but praxis might prove that advantage to be very small.

[Zico]

I can't say as I don't know but remember how Loeb was going to fall from the top because he wasn't able to drive without active diffs

Shhh.. (embarassed smiley) I believe I was one of those predicting that.. due to wrongly believing that the active centre diff was also included in the ban.

[OldF]

If I remember right, David Lapworth said in an interview that the active diffs are about 0,1 s / km faster than mechanical diffs. Not much but 0,1 * 350 km = 35 s.

[ST205GT4]

With all due respect to Lapworth's much greater knowledge of these things, the timesheets aren't backing up his claims!

[Dingardo]

he was probably right.. but improvements in tyres, handling and power would mean that disadvantage was negated.