Designing a revolution

The process of creating a racecar has moved on from the drawing board and pencil, but coming up with a competitive car is still as skilful as it ever was

- Andrew Cotton

There is much complaining in the modern world about how similar racecars look, with aerodynamics playing such a key role in optimising chassis and bodywork design to the point there is little other than the colour and stickers to differentiate them. It’s a far cry from the pre-wind tunnel days when cars were designed according to what the creator considered attractive. That led to individual, and in some cases iconic, designs that have been loved by fans ever since.

Yet the design of the car is primarily about finding the most efficient balance between downforce and drag, while also meeting stringent safety requirements, and therefore time is spent in the design phase trying to find the best of all worlds.

So how do modern racecar designers go about taking a blank sheet of paper and turning it into a race-winning design?

Read the rules

The first step is to look at the championship, and what will be the requirements of the car to compete. For example, Formula 1 allows for open development for all teams. There are some parts that can be shared with the engine supplier but, other than that, the chassis, suspension, gearbox and cooling are all in the hands of the teams’ designers, and are vital elements when it comes to designing a car. Formula 1 cars can be evolved mid-season, adapted according to whichever track the cars are racing, and they can be improved throughout the year.