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The detailed, custom parts continue to the main control panel where each switch is called out against the aluminum panel – stickers would be too easy.
Being a European build, most of the action takes place on a Cosworth Omega dash display, reading out information from the Link Thunder ECU. It may look simple from the outside, but the Omega features more than just shift lights. A programmable set of lap modes can analyze runs, allowing Deane to select different sectors to map out over a track and quickly compare inputs between runs to see exactly where things went right. Given how new all of the Formula D circuits are to him this season, the technology may prove invaluable to up the learning curve.
All Formula D cars are required to include a passenger seat, but at this point the rule is a bit ridiculous. Nearly every driver has something lodged in the opposite footwell, deterring most from getting a sweet shotgun thrill. Deane’s nitrous bottle sits on the port side, calibrated for added horsepower and smooth torque delivery without the usual lags/peaks of a high turbocharged system.
Corbeau bucket seats and racing harnesses were selected by the team to keep Deane firmly planted through the sideways turns. Formula D also mandates that the driver’s seat have side head protection (again, showing that the passenger’s side is of far lesser value). The side support also serves as extra real-estate to show off Deane’s numbering, a littler personalization for the driver.
Speaking of which, Deane is especially proud of how the Corbeau driver’s seat has been custom painted on the back with the Irish flag. He knows that he is an ambassador for his island nation and the sport at large, happy to include this against the backdrop of his team colors.
