Racecar Engineering September 2018

Being on the working side of the track, one gets used to the rhythms of the race. The early start, arriving at least two hours before any session, then settling down to the familiar routines. The day passing in the bowels of the pits, if you are the main event, or tucked away in the backwaters of the support race paddock. But one tends to forget the spectators, who not only brave the traffic jams and queues to get to the track, but probably leave their homes much earlier than the circus members and then pay to get into the circuit. There might be a psychological name for their peculiar derangement, for surely no one in his right mind would do it. Formula 1 events or major iconic races bring their…

McLaren and Williams are in dire trouble, and this shouldn’t please anybody who genuinely recognises the value to the sport of their names and achievements, and the dedication and loyalty of their employees. This is not just sentiment, there’s little room for it in F1, but fans identify with certain teams. Losing them may also lose some of the interest and support that is essential if Liberty’s plans to expand race coverage in areas including social media are to be realised. All sports need recognised star names to attract followers who will know that they are engaging with the best in their chosen sphere. It is immensely hard when down and being kicked to pick oneself up. It is difficult to step back from the inevitable daily fire-fighting to really assess…

It was originally planned that the 2.2-litre engines would run for just four years, but they are now in year seven and the manufacturers felt it was time to change IndyCar has laid out the path that will take it through the next eight years, with new engines due in 2021 leading to an increase in horsepower to 900bhp, and a new chassis due in 2022, but perhaps mostly with the hope that a third engine manufacturer will take a shine to these new regulations and join Honda and Chevrolet in the US series. The step-up in horsepower will come via more boost and an increase in engine capacity, from 2.2 litres to 2.4, and the series will stay away from intercooling systems while also maintaining the ban on technology such as…

This year the 17-round IndyCar series visits 10 road and street tracks and six ovals One of the things that has always set IndyCar apart from European style racing on the one hand and NASCAR on the other is its embracing of a mix of different circuits; from full-on super speedways such as Indianapolis to short ovals like Iowa, and classic road courses such as Road America to street circuits like St Petersburg. This year the 17-round series visits 10 road and street tracks and six ovals and it is a challenge to make a car, or in this case a set of body kits, that will suit all of these. It was a challenge that’s been met this year with the UAK18 kits. Track specific The UAK18 has three different configurations, according…

‘In Japan there is a different spirit, a bit more of a pure racing approach, and so we tried to keep this in mind when designing this new car’ It has been five years since the premier single seater category in Japan, Super Formula, last introduced a new car. But the long wait is now nearly over and in July the new design from Dallara hit the Fuji circuit in Japan for the first time and the plan is to deliver cars at the tail end of 2018, in time for testing for its debut season in 2019. The targets for the SF19 was that it should be up to two seconds faster than the previous model while facilitating overtaking, therefore providing spectators with more entertainment. With this in mind the car…

From the outset this concept has been focussed on exactly what is needed to produce a successful single-seat racecar, and early indications are that this has worked. Primarily due to the speed at Suzuka, comparisons with Formula 1 are bound to be drawn ahead of the publication of the new F1 aero regulations. The chassis and front wing are spec in Japan, which is a shame as variety and opportunity for young designers is on the wane. However, the concept of the new Super Formula car does raise possibilities for the architects of the new Formula 1 regulations. Let’s hope they look east before they rubber stamp them, then ……