Give in to your disbelief. Here's a shot looking down the throat of the duct. [for the record, Ferrari F12 Berlinetta]
The air isn't kicking up above the wheel center-line and diving toward the duct; it's moving sideways and down. If it really works.
What did you think of the Wind-Electric hybrid? The cover date is unreadable, but there's an article about CB radio. I'm guessing mid-80s. That high body with wheel fairing became standard practice on solar racers much later.