Best solution for grip, traction and agressive cornering.

[Imhotep Evil]

In response to another tread.



So what would you prefer/have ?!


This fancy AWD car :

or this (massive) downforce + exotic tyre polimer compounds "car".

 

[Imhotep Evil]

So please, Martimbo and even Eni and SCOTT do share your toughts.

We need more expert tought, beliefs, justifications.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

My favorite would have to be this ground-effect fan-car, the Brabham BT46B Alfa Romeo.






Regardless how good and fancy and AWD system is, IMO, against an insane downforce RWD system, it simply stands no chance.

Tough AWD is more practicle in real life.

 

[Monster]

good question. It really does depends on what surface you are racing. On something like ice, you really do need 4WD to go anywhere. but on smooth racing tracks, i dont' think 4WD will benefit that much, espically when the cars are light, with massive downforce, low c of g and extremely grippy tyres.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Well, what about this ?!

I know it's not ice, but ...








Would an AWD system fair better ?!

 

[Imhotep Evil]

>



^ F1 teams did try AWD, but even in rain these cars were slower due to the extra weight. So downforce and gripy tyres proved more effective. As for the fan car it could go on everything. Well it wasn't tested on ice.

 

[EnI]

F1 solutions, of course.

But such solutions are impossible to implement to passenger cars / trucks.

So, the "civil" vehicles will get fancy AWD systems & other electro & mechanical systems (various active chassis & suspension systems like ESP, ARS, EDC etc) to enhance the grip & traction.

IMO also a lot can be done in tire development. When we'll see "active tires"?

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Well some cars do use wings/spoilers to generate downforce. Ofcource the downforce cars are acording to the Sport Auto list(s) the exotic supercars like Zonda F, Carrera GT and Enzo.


However movable aerodynamics and active suspensions like systems witch were banned from F1 are used by Porsche. Also other electronic aids banned from F1 (active ride cars) are found in production cars.

 

[Monster]

Well, what about this ?!

I know it's not ice, but ...








Would an AWD system fair better ?!

I knew you are going to raise this issue. I still think AWD will be better in this situation, how fast are those F1 cars going on ice? i would imagine the brakes will lock up very easily

 

[Imhotep Evil]

I honestly don't know.

Still would have been nice to have such a race to compare vs. rain vs. dry times
and see how the cars behave.



Here is what Carlos sainz had to say upon testing the Renault R25 :

Two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz was impressed after testing a Renault Formula One car at Barcelona during the weekend.

The Spaniard delighted his home crowd when he took to the track at the wheel of last year's R25 in front of nearly 80,000 spectators that attended the three-day World Series by Renault meeting.

Sainz was impressed with the car's qualities.

"The acceleration, the braking, the grip, everything is amazing in this car," said Sainz. "I have just been testing in Tunisia for the Dakar rally, so going from desert driving to a Formula One car is a pretty big change.

"They are totally different, light years apart. In Formula One, you need to be a top athlete because the whole body is under duress.

"It is a unique experience, almost impossible to describe, and unlike anything I have felt before. I have been in a fighter plane, I have ridden a 500cc GP bike, but this is something else again. Renault has given me one of the best experiences of my life."

Thing is, fancy AWD cars can be more liberal, whereas downforce monsters walk on a very thin red line between cornering and loosing time and/or spining.

N. Lauda 3 times WDC said that the cornering on the ground effect cars was esentially rape applied on the driver.
Now today, while no longer using ground effects, the cars corner even faster and subject the driver to even more Gs.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Now were is Yannis to defend the honour of AWD ?!

 

[bum-man]

Aerodynamic downforce and an active camber system. One gives the best advantage when the car is moving fast the other when the car is moving slow(er).

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Aerodynamic downforce and an active camber system. One gives the best advantage when the car is moving fast the other when the car is moving slow(er).

Yep, but apart from that MB prototype, is there anything that uses an active camber system ?!



Anyway, you're another downforcer, so vote man.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

DeDe and MikeJ, please opinions, on why AWD.

I don't want just votes, but opinions, beliefs, speculations, scientific explanations too.

Come on guys.

 

[Zonda]

Ye, Downforce with active suspension, active camper, active aerodynamics and so on. All of which has been experimented with in F1 at some point, but been banned.

 

[bum-man]

Yep, but apart from that MB prototype, is there anything that uses an active camber system ?!



Anyway, you're another downforcer, so vote man.

Nope, I'm sure other manufacturers have tested the idea, but I'm positive that something wont be out like that until the reaction time is in sync with what the car is capable of.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Nope, I'm sure other manufacturers have tested the idea, but I'm positive that something wont be out like that until the reaction time is in sync with what the car is capable of.

I think Nissan had an active suspension witch gave some camber freedom.

 

[MikeJ]

DeDe and MikeJ, please opinions, on why AWD.

I don't want just votes, but opinions, beliefs, speculations, scientific explanations too.

Come on guys.

Coming up later.

 

[bum-man]

I think Nissan had an active suspension witch gave some camber freedom.

Oh ya! Also, the new G35 have some kind of 4 wheel steering system, but I don't know if that would make it more sporting or just easier to get on with around town.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Ye, Downforce with active suspension, active camper, active aerodynamics and so on. All of which has been experimented with in F1 at some point, but been banned.

Not all. Today's winglet/widget aerodynamics still creates massive amounts of downforce put it pay the price of not being slipery. Now movable aerodynamics and ground effects aerodynamics would probably be more effective vs. drag but
have been banned in 1969 and 1981 and 1983.

While the fan car, epithome of "I've got so much downforce that nothing can stop me" was only allowed for 1 race.