A Front Wing for wet races

[Ruy]

Would it be a good idea to design a front wing for water?
i.e. optimized for removing water from the path of the front wheels
Take into account the possibility of a change of nose on a pit stop

[Jersey Tom]

The water the front tires care about is on the ground, on the track. Wing wouldn't do anything there...

[Ruy]

well, i was thinking on some kind of diagonal diffuser, so:

accelerate air -> airflow affects the water on the ground -> airflow and water going somewhere together

[Jersey Tom]

Keep in mind with the air... the relative velocity of the air and water on the track is 0. So even if you accelerate some air a little bit, it wouldn't really do anything.

Wings are for generating downforce... rain tires are for moving water.

[PlatinumZealot]

Put some street broom bristles under the wing

[paused]

Put some street broom bristles under the wing

Or the first "squidgy" wing.

[The FOZ]

How 'bout a front wing that directs high-velocity air to the ground in front of the front tires? Surely moving water away from the contact path would improve front end traction.

[ESPImperium]

Personally, id like to see the teams going back to the 2008 spec front wings with the rest of the car going 2009 spec. It would just ballance the car out alot more, also arguably create more front downforce.

Altho, id also like to see a 2008 spec rear wing with the 2009 height as well, altho in reality id like to see the rear wing somewhere in the middle between the 2008 and 2009 spec. Altho, id limit total allowable wing angle, only allow it to be 25 degrees in steepness and also increase the steepness of the diffuser as well.

But, i have a few opinions on what should be allowed on the cars.

[Jersey Tom]

How 'bout a front wing that directs high-velocity air to the ground in front of the front tires? Surely moving water away from the contact path would improve front end traction.

There is no high velocity air. The relative velocity of the free steam, and the water, is going to be pretty much the same.

Remember its the CAR that moves relative to stationary air.

[HKS]

How is it possible to think of such a thing? How can water be deflected from from the wind. I don't know if its quiet possible.

[DaveKillens]

Interesting concept Ruy. I am assuming your train of thought was inspired by views of cars at Malaysia. But when there is that much water on the track, and hydroplaning becomes a safety issue, then the race gets a safety car or stopped.
Taking a side-step back into history, the famous Tyrrell P34 six wheeler had four front tires. One reason for it's existence was the concept that in the rain, the front set of tires squeezed the water out of the way, allowing the following set of tires a contact surface relatively free of water, and thus of higher efficiency than a regular four wheel car could achieve.
In my youth I was involved in helicopter operations, including a lot of water work. The downwash under a helicopter is powerful, and it may throw up a lot of water spray, but I have never noticed it displacing any substantial amounts of water.

[gcdugas]

How 'bout a front wing that directs high-velocity air to the ground in front of the front tires? Surely moving water away from the contact path would improve front end traction.

We have a term for this... it is called aerodynamic lift.

[The FOZ]

Dyson Air Blade.