,
Now, here's something interesting about the APM Racing FR-S. When installing the quick release portion of the steering wheel, they welded it on for a safer alternative to the bolt in versions that exist. Welding the quick release portion allowed them to retain the OEM FR-S steering column. You're probably thinking that it's either not a big deal or a waste of time. That's where you'd be wrong. See that white piece on the column itself where the welded portion of the quick release is? That's the steering wheel sensor for the Active Yaw Control. In testing prior to the 25 Hours, APM had their drivers test the car with the AYC functioning or disabled. Without the sensor in, the steering felt normal if not a little dead. With it in, however, as the car began to slide its rear tires, the steering wheel would begin to tell the drivers that the car was at the edge of control by changing the steering feel. The steering feel can change like this because the FR-S has electric motor assisted steering and does not use a hydraulic pump. |
Next up on things you'd only see in the 25 Hours; this switch. What does it do? Does it increase horsepower? Disable some sort of traction control? Help the car cheat?! |
Nope, it just turns on the interior lights. Several sets of LED lights are turned on for better sight during driver changes and vehicle inspections. The lights even made taking interior shots a little easier! |
The Fuel Door latch was even moved from the left side of the car to the right to make it easier to fuel the car in the 25 Hours. When a car pits, the pit crew is at driver's right, so putting as many things on the right hand side of the car that the crew needs helps make pit stops easier and faster. |
At the back of the car, we see more of Alex Pfeiffer's beautiful cage work and also see that all of the panels are gone. You don't need that stuff on a race car! |
The center console was also mostly left in because it did give a spot to install the radio for crew to driver transmissions. It's just a modified cup holder that housed MP3 players and phones. |
The dash is left kind of intact. The glove box, radio, and HVAC controls are all removed for weight savings. In place of the glove box is the fire retardant bottle. |