Team Lotus T128 Renault

[H. Zedozil]

Lotus TL11 roll blade analysis http://bit.ly/h3NimX

[ringo]

Elliot (head of R&D): "The area that intrigues me the most is the front suspension, and the rear as well actually," he said. "We've tried to push the boundaries with a few things to make it a bit lighter and more efficient."

they're hiding the real suspension then. Redbull may want them to hold off until the rb7 comes out too.

[H. Zedozil]

Lotus TL11 roll blade analysis http://bit.ly/h3NimX

"Latest innovation from Team Lotus"

[imightbewrong]

Could it be that they don't have a complete upper wishbone at the back?

[volarchico]

Lotus TL11 roll blade analysis http://bit.ly/h3NimX

Anyone mind pasting the full link? The bit.ly site is blocked at my work!

[mx_tifoso]

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/arti ... -analysis/

[Pup]

Elliot (head of R&D): "The area that intrigues me the most is the front suspension, and the rear as well actually," he said. "We've tried to push the boundaries with a few things to make it a bit lighter and more efficient."

Well if they're pushing the boundaries by eliminating the control and push rods, I'm intrigued too.

[FW17]

Yes, there seems to be an opening there. But it's not unusual as many other cars have even had scoops to let in more air to cool the drivers.

ferrari 2008 type of hole in the nose?

[mx_tifoso]

No, just a cooling hole, I don't recall which cars had but there was a little scoop. I think it was a Ferrari from a few years ago. I'll post pics if I find it, nothing special though.


EDIT: http://www.topferraripics.info/wp-conte ... 2005-2.jpg

But what I just noticed is that on the Lotus the hole is in the actual nosecone, and not on the monocoque. And as far as I know the nosecone doesn't open up into chassis. So it's for cooling the electronics in the nosecone/end of the chassis since they don't have a hole at the tip?

[FW17]

No, just a cooling hole, I don't recall which cars had but there was a little scoop. I think it was a Ferrari from a few years ago. I'll post pics if I find it, nothing special though.

Looks more like a bad paint job now.

The car does not have the front suspension pushrod, but from the image are those the pick-up points in front of the upper wishbone?

If that is the case it is going to be one weird suspension geometry

[wickerbill]

So according to the 2011 regulations roll blade area has to just meet required dimensions so the actual ban is in fact misinterpreted wording – or in other words the blade has to be less... sharp?
Anyway if the whole Merc’s W01 idea was to get better airflow to the rear wing with slimmer design and at the same time providing equal amount of air for cooling then this solution doesn’t seem to make much sense as it’s frontal surface area is in fact massive. Even though that much of it are the intakes (for cooling I assume) then does the car really need so much of it while last year’s R30 and RB6 (engine+gbox) needed only slice of it? KERS is also not there.
I am really interested what this solution is aimed at...
Any ideas?

[bjpower]

as far as the blade goes. i would assume this is like the merc last year. a few races in they will move the air intake lower.

any pics of the backend?

[imightbewrong]

Regarding the roll structure I'll just quote myself from another thread:

http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.ns ... 2-2010.pdf
Page 42 gives us the reference measurements

So this is just to give an idea about the approximate dimensions involved.




I think it feasible to make a 50x200mm roll structure and just add aerodynamic shaping outside this block with light-weight material.

[volarchico]

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/arti ... -analysis/

Thanks for the link! I can't help but agree with a few others who think this looks too thick. We thought the W02's airbox looked bulky, but that means this one looks massive!

[H. Zedozil]

Is it just me or is there some really weird sculpting on the leading edge of the chassis underneath each sidepod air intake.

Not only that, the rendered car has a different front wing.
Looks like Lotus is still behind with some work. The suspension doesn't even seem finished.

The diffuser is not fitted yet!!