|
Here is a novel idea...one that has come more into play with auto manufacturers with the advent of increased fuel economy.....since the body is pretty much optimized and has strict rules with how much you can do, how about improving the aerodynamics under the body. New car manufacturers are even more trying to improve the airflow under the hood, around components, smoothing things out and providing channels to evacuate air quickly and efficiently. F1 has been doing it for years, they place and design everything with aero in mind, even if it means slightly less than optimal location, from a mechanical standpoint.
I am wondering if your "cockpit" and all the mechanicals, if it were all enclosed in an optimized cocoon like shape, if then the airflow that does come in there would more readily leave that area and do so quicker with less resulting drag. Since air will inevitably make its was under the car, getting it out as fast as possible might help you shave off a few tenths. All those bars under there could slightly benefit from some carbon airfoil shrouds.....some downforce might also be found there. You probably would have to do some runs and see just what kind of airflow is going on under there...some tufts, and some onboard mini cameras might tell you a lot. To put it another way....perhaps designing the car without the body on it to be as aerodynamic as possible (keeping in mind the direction in which the air is coming in from) might help when the body is back on.
|