2009: Dead simple front wings erase spoons

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At this week's Barcelona test, Honda showed a front wing conforming to the 2009 specifications. While there is a lot more to it than just the central section, this is the most interesting - or boring - part. In recent years, teams came up with various different spoon shapes in the middle part of the front wing, but they won't have to bother anymore. A change in the regulations stipulates that the central part of the front wing (500mm of it to be exact) must consist of a single element. It must also conform exactly to the thickness and chord specified by the FIA. To make a long story short, an area where no aerodynamicist should be kept busy with.
All this however for a good cause, as simulations proved that this section was most prone to loss of downforce when trailing another car, so eliminating any downforce will allow the second car to follow closer, and hopefully overtake after that.




Comments

By Anonymous on 21-11-2008 at 08:47

Strangely, the regulations state in article 3.7.3 that the the aerofoil to be used is shown in 'Drawing 7' but the document on the FIA's website does not feature any such drawing. Go figure...


By JVogt on 21-11-2008 at 08:48

By the way - that last post was by me - I forgot to log in :P Sorry.


By Steven on 21-11-2008 at 14:08

Strange that you can post without logging in... :s
Anyway, I haven't got the drawings either, have asked for them without success.


By NitroCGM on 28-12-2008 at 17:31

The cetral section is a symmetric section at a positive angle of attack, about 4 degrees if I recal correctly.


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