MORE WHEELS ON MY WAGON COME AND JOIN THE DOUBLE DECKERSTHE SIX-WHEEL CAR
When designer Derek Gardner first apprised JackieStewart of
the concept ofTyrrell’s six-wheel P34 car, the retired triple world
champion nearly choked.Yet the car proved to be a qualified success,
winning once and claiming 13 podiums in its two seasons. The logic
behind thefour 10-inch wheels at the front was two-fold. Firstly,
better grip through the corners, even though the wheels were smaller.
Secondly, those smaller wheels allowedfor a reduced frontal area
of the car and less lift. This meant Gardner could dial back on the
aerodynamics, which resulted in the equivalent of anextra 40bhp.THE DOUBLE DIFFUSER
The mainreason a modern F1 car has a diffuser – an underfloor device
between the rear wheels– is to speed up the flow ofair under the car,
thus creating low pressureand increasing downforce. This wasn’t new
technology but when Brawn GP appeared in early 2009testing witha
double-deck diffuser it was a title-winning move. Regulationsfor 2009
had actually limiteda di ffuser’s height and widthbut Brawn, along with
Toyota and Williams, through cunning interpretation of the rules,added
a second levelto the diffuser. Protested and declared legal,double
diffuserswere, you’ve guessed it, eventually bannedby 2011.MORE WHEELS ON MY WAGON COME AND JOIN THE DOUBLE DECKERS
THE SIX-WHEEL CAR
When designer Derek Gardner first apprised JackieStewart of
the concept ofTyrrell’s six-wheel P34 car, the retired triple world
champion nearly choked.Yet the car proved to be a qualified success,
winning once and claiming 13 podiums in its two seasons. The logic
behind thefour 10-inch wheels at the front was two-fold. Firstly,
better grip through the corners, even though the wheels were smaller.
Secondly, those smaller wheels allowedfor a reduced frontal area
of the car and less lift. This meant Gardner could dial back on the
aerodynamics, which resulted in the equivalent of anextra 40bhp.THE DOUBLE DIFFUSER
The mainreason a modern F1 car has a diffuser – an underfloor device
between the rear wheels– is to speed up the flow ofair under the car,
thus creating low pressureand increasing downforce. This wasn’t new
technology but when Brawn GP appeared in early 2009testing witha
double-deck diffuser it was a title-winning move. Regulationsfor 2009
had actually limiteda di ffuser’s height and widthbut Brawn, along with
Toyota and Williams, through cunning interpretation of the rules,added
a second levelto the diffuser. Protested and declared legal,double
diffuserswere, you’ve guessed it, eventually bannedby 2011.