FIA Reveal Radical New Car for F1

The FIA, the ruling body of Formula 1, today published its radical new double rear wing design which they claim will improve overtaking and make it easier for cars to follow one another at speed. They hope their new design can be brought in as soon as 2007 and are presenting the plans to the FOC in London today...

The design is a product of a programme of research started by the FIA in the hope of finding a design which would encourage overtaking in the sport by increasing the amount of aerodynamic downforce cars generated when following one another, therefore giving them more grip. The problem up to now has been that when following one another at speed, the air moving over the front and rear wings of the car behind has not only been less, but more turbulent as well. As a result the car following has less grip and is more difficult to drive. This inevitably means catching and overtaking cars is more difficult and doesn't make for good racing. In an attempt to fix the problem the FIA started a program of research to produce regulations for a car which would still produce the same downforce but would also create a wake in which a following car would produce more downforce with less drag. In simple terms, the following car will be able to go faster than the car in front therefore there should be much more overtaking. The new wing, called the CDG (Centerline Downwash Generating) Wing, will be presented to the Formula One Commission meeting in London today in the hope of gaining approval. The FIA want the new design, along with wider wheels and slick tyres, to be part of the 2008 techincal regulations. However, they also say that with support from the teams and manufacturers it could be brought in as early as 2007. Max Mosely, the FIA president, said; "This new research is important for the future of Formula One. By introducing the CDG wing we can give motor sport fans exactly what they have asked for, wheel-to-wheel racing with much more overtaking. "It is our hope that the teams will collaborate with us in the optimisation of this radical new idea so that the aerodynamic benefits can be introduced into Formula One in 2007 rather than having to wait until 2008."