Premium

Technology in conversation (11/2) - Ground effect/drift without wings

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on March 1, 2022

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv Reinhard

Ford

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv Reinhard

Ford

Archiv

Andretti in the Lotus 79 at the Spanish GP (1978)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 79, the first ground effect world champion in 1978. The secret of success was the wing profiles close to the ground in the skirt-sealed side boxes

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

This is how it all began - Lotus 49 from 1968 - wing stubs at the front, spoiler at the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Rumpler drop wagon (1921) - see-through drawing reveals some technical details

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Even the Bugatti 32 Tank from 1923 struggled with buoyancy

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Bugatti 35 (1928) - on the Bugatti stand - Rétromobile Paris 2020

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Rak II (1928) - Fritz von Opel reached 250 km/h on the Avus in May 1928

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 78 (1978) - Ronnie Peterson at the GP South Africa

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

The March F1 from 1970 had wing-shaped side tanks

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

BRM tests with lateral wing profiles 1969

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

BRM test with a different approach - radiator inlet in NACA form on the top of the side pontoon

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

The Lotus 77 from 1976, here still without test skirts

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

The Type 78 took 5 victories in its first year in 1977. And its successor, the beautiful Lotus 79, went on to win the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships with Andretti in 1978

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 79, that's how the opponents saw it - looking not into the tube, but into the diffusers

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 79 - beautifully successful, successfully beautiful

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 79 (1979) - at the 1979 Italian GP

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Lotus 79 (1979) - not quite as successful as expected (GP South Africa)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

The Lotus 80 was a failure - planned without wings, it had to be given wings afterwards, but without success

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari T4 from 1979 - not elegant, but efficient

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

The wide, flat engine of the 1979 Ferrari T4 restricted the air outlet

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 312 T4 (1979) - Jody Scheckter at the British GP

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ferrari 312 T4 (1979) - Victory for Gilles Villeneuve ahead of Jody Scheckter at the GP Kyalami (South Africa)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Cosworth V8 engine with narrow base was ideal for air extraction behind the side pontoons of wing cars

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Flat underbody, diffusers at the rear for reduced ground effect

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Ground effect 2022 - Narrower but higher diffusers

You have only

1 out of 31

images seen in high resolution

Summary

The 2022 Formula 1 season is about to begin, and it will bring a technical revolution: instead of extremely effective wings and overblown spoilers, the so-called ground effect will be increasingly reintroduced - with air ducts under the side of the car right up to the rear diffusers. Anyone who lived through the seventies will take notice: Ground effect - wasn't that already the big topic back then? And of course it provides plenty of topics of conversation for the two buddies Albert and Expert.

Estimated reading time: 17min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Once again, the two car buddies Albert and Expert meet up. The new Formula 1 racing cars for the 2022 season provide an opportunity for discussion, with the classic floor effect returning to the Grand Prix class thanks to profiled side air ducts. Of course, the history of technology must be consulted immediately. Albert: Everyone is now talking about the new Formula 1 2022, and it's said everywhere that they're going back to a downforce concept from the seventies and eighties. That makes me wonder: is this progress through regression ? Expert: Do you even know what that downforce concept was?

Welcome to Zwischengas!