smackboy1

Is this a really stupid question? OK, I understand that race cars based on stock production cars would just follow the stock chassis steering wheel placement. But why are some race cars RHD and others LHD? e.g. Porsche LMP cars seem to be RHD, but the Audi LMP cars seem to be LHD? Why was the Ford GT40 RHD but had the shifter on the side next to the door?

From a purely driving standpoint, and given that most drivers are right handed, where is the best place for the driver, LHD or RHD or the middle (e.g. McLaren F1)?

SundayDriver

That is a really good question.

Center seating is best, but traditionally, sports cars (Prototypes) require 2 seats so that is not an option. (However, in SCCA, single seat sports cars are permitted and that is how all the new designs go.) Traditionally, road courses run clockwise, thus RHD provides a more favorable weight bias and viewing with the driver closer to the apex.

Since most of the world is LHD, some sports cars have been made that way - and many courses run CCW. Shifters are sometimes on the right, even in RHD cars, as the drivers are more comfortable with that arrangement. Of course, anymore, we have paddle or button shift in the wheel so that is a non issue.

Larry Herman

I thought that they just got the negatives backwards in the photo.

paradisenb

Larry, you are just dyslexic.