What's been happening?
AP2289's body has been fitted onto a chassis to check the body accuracy to AP's set of drawings. The body has come up so close that any differences that are actually measurable are within millimetres of the drawings. Even though the 427 and 289 shapes look quite different in detail, the basics of both are identical....so AP dropped a 427 bonnet and boot onto the FIA body, and they fitted perfectly.
What that means is that all of the PACE hardware - bonnet & boot hinges, door hinges, door shape except for the cutback part, so intrusion bars....all fit extremely well. All very reassuring for me when I think of how far -literally - that body has come.
For added strength, a complete layer of structural carbon composite will be added to the underside of the body. The carbon composite is a double bias structural grade, so will add considerably to the body's strength. Also to be added are what in effect are angle strips for reinforcement, the same as what is done on the AP427s. The doors will also get a carbon/kevlar lining as well as the intrusion bars.
I have got to say, I am impressed.
Here's the body sitting on the chassis for measurement:
Cheers,
Glen