Ride Height Management - Lotus Renault Innovation?

[SGWilko]

Is this the next 'must have' gizmo? Has Lotus Renault found this year (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/01/has-lotus-renault-found-this-years-must-have-gizmo/) or will it fail as spectacularly as the forward facing exhaust?

[CNR]

is this real or an early april fools joke ?

Has Lotus Renault found this year (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/01/has-lotus-renault-found-this-years-must-have-gizmo/)

known as Renault, that helped to win it the 2006/6 world championships.

One of the few technical rule changes for this year is the lowering of the nose of the car from a maximum of 62cm to 55cm,

2012: Nose height Regulations | Scarbsf1's Blog (http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/2012-nose-height-regulations/)
2012: Nose height Regulations

TWG and FIA have agreed a two step reduction on nose height. When we talk of noses there are two elements to this. Firstly the nose tip, this is the very visible, end of the nose cone structure. Then secondly the front bulkhead (referred to by the FIA as section A-A), this is where the nose cone mounts to the chassis.
This reduction in height starts in 2012 with the front bulkhead limited to a 55cm height and then in 2014 the nose tip must fit into a zone 25cm high.

[Rollo]

Old Lotus had ride-height adjustment in the 98T in 1986 and computer controlled ride-height adjustment in the 99T in 1987.

This is an innovation? If it is it must the like the invention of concrete which the Romans had but was lost for 1200 years until 1670.

[wedge]

http://www.omnicorse.it/img/articoli/evidenza/14489_lotus-renault-prova-un-geniale-correttore-dassetto.jpg

Lotus Renault prova un geniale correttore d'assetto! (http://www.omnicorse.it/magazine/14489/f1-la-lotus-renault-prova-un-geniale-correttore-di-assetto-montato-nei-portamozzi)

[SGWilko]

Looks like it's a goer - fully legal (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96952).

Interesting that another 'front runner' has a similar system in development/ready for use this year......

[AndyL]

Back in the 80's a lot of motorcycles had "anti dive forks" that linked the brake system to the suspension. Conceptually similar, though those acted on the dampers rather than the suspension links.

I wonder how easy this will be for competitors to copy. It doesn't seem to me like the sort of thing you'd have to change your whole aerodynamic concept to benefit from, but I could be wrong.

[SGWilko]

I wonder how easy this will be for competitors to copy..

It's all about packaging. If your concept is not designed from the outset with an idea in mind that takes up space, it is a bugger shoehorning it in.....

[AndyL]

It's all about packaging. If your concept is not designed from the outset with an idea in mind that takes up space, it is a bugger shoehorning it in.....

But the packaging is pretty much all in the brake assembly - my guess would be redesigning that will have much less effect on the overall aerodynamic concept than something like a different wing, diffuser or rake angle.

[SGWilko]

But the packaging is pretty much all in the brake assembly - my guess would be redesigning that will have much less effect on the overall aerodynamic concept than something like a different wing, diffuser or rake angle.

Sure, but if it does not 'fit' with your brake cooling concept, then you have to re-design the whole kit and kaboodle. What about suspension geometry etc. Not just a plug and play episode, not by a long chalk.

[jens]

Very interesting. Let's see if this gamble pays off better and Lotus can actually make a positive impression during 2012.

[gloomyDAY]

Good! This is what F1 is all about. I was sore about Brawn GP and that loophole that Honda had found while manufacturing their chassis. Fact of the matter is that the loophole was there and full advantage was taken of the rulebook. Now, I hope that both Kimi and Grosjean can run with it and take it to the other teams.

[wedge]

Sure, but if it does not 'fit' with your brake cooling concept, then you have to re-design the whole kit and kaboodle. What about suspension geometry etc. Not just a plug and play episode, not by a long chalk.

RBR usually - and recently STR run low calipers

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5570383488_339791ef3f.jpg

Oh, it took Lotus the best part of a year to perfect it because of cracking issues.

[TheFamousEccles]

Nice detail shot, wedge. I wish I could make the calipers on my toys as clean as this! I suppose it helps if you have them made for you from unobtainium and assemble the things in a workshop cleaner than most operating theatres!!

[SGWilko]

Nice detail shot, wedge. I wish I could make the calipers on my toys as clean as this! I suppose it helps if you have them made for you from unobtainium and assemble the things in a workshop cleaner than most operating theatres!!

Isn't unobtainium unobtainable?

[TMorel]

Isn't unobtainium unobtainable?
I think you can get it from Tesco.

Am I right in thinking most of the teams have withdrawn from the spending cap? I see Renault took a year to solve the cracking issue but are the big boys allowed to now throw money at things like this to solve the problem?

[CNR]

Ferrari has developed its own reactive ride-height system for 2012 F1 car - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96971)
Ferrari has developed its own reactive ride-height system for 2012 F1 car

[SGWilko]

I think you can get it from Tesco.

Am I right in thinking most of the teams have withdrawn from the spending cap? I see Renault took a year to solve the cracking issue but are the big boys allowed to now throw money at things like this to solve the problem?

Whilst some teams may no longer wish to be members of FOTA and have submitted their intentions to leave, the RRA, which I think is legally binding, runs until 2014 IIRC.