Whaaaaaaaaaaaat??? McLaren rear wing declared legal!!!

[Racehound]

Here we go again!! So the rear wing vent, OPERATED by the drivers knee, has been declared legal?? This is a device which directs air-flow through the engine cover vane to the front edge of the rear wing!!! When the driver wants to stall the rear wing, all he has to do is push a pad with his knee to gain an extra (estimated) 6 kmh!!! And Whiting has not deemed it to be "a moveable aerodynamic device"..!!?? And 1 day before first practice for Bahrain!!?? Baaah-rain!!! Disgraceful!! Yet the Renault mass-damper WAS deemed to be "a moveable aerodynamic device"!!! Unbelieeeeeeeeeeevable inconsistency!!!

[Touchette]

How exactly does the FIA define "a moveable aerodynamic device"?

[Insighter]

Originally Posted by Touchette

How exactly does the FIA define "a moveable aerodynamic device"?

That's the big question, and I'm not sure even the FIA can answer it!

[Racehound]

Originally Posted by Touchette

How exactly does the FIA define "a moveable aerodynamic device"?

hmmmm...its in the "rules" somewhere, but now youre asking me to troll thru the 96 season news articles to define "active mechanically operated device" as opposed to "passive mechanically operated device"!!! The mass dampers were seen as passiveley operated, whereas this new wing requires airflow to be channeled thru a plenum chamber to "lose" the rear wing downforce, and is done by the driver operating a switch or lever by his knee! Logic would expect this kind of device to be viewed as active, considering its need to work being operated remotely. Yet the mass damper, which could not be controlled from outside, was banned!? And what a coincidence Charlie couldnt get to Woking due to "flight complications", and can only determine whether the car "is legal" 1 day before 1st practice for the season opener!!!! The king is dead, long live the king Max is still here for sure!

[cptkablamo]

I think you will find it has something to do with where the dart lands on the dart board...

[MSulka]

Originally Posted by Racehound

Here we go again!! So the rear wing vent, OPERATED by the drivers knee, has been declared legal?? This is a device which directs air-flow through the engine cover vane to the front edge of the rear wing!!! When the driver wants to stall the rear wing, all he has to do is push a pad with his knee to gain an extra (estimated) 6 kmh!!! And Whiting has not deemed it to be "a moveable aerodynamic device"..!!?? And 1 day before first practice for Bahrain!!?? Baaah-rain!!! Disgraceful!! Yet the Renault mass-damper WAS deemed to be "a moveable aerodynamic device"!!! Unbelieeeeeeeeeeevable inconsistency!!!

Dog... You can't have it both ways here....

I thought the FIA was pro-Ferrari/Anti-McLaren ?

This decision doesn't seem to back that sentiment.

[MSulka]

btw... the front wing is allowed to move these days, so what's wrong with adding the back wing ?

[Touchette]

From what I can tell in looking at the 2010 Technical Regulations, that I downloaded off the FIA website, Section 3.15 applies to the part in question. Section 3.15 reads:

3.15 Aerodynamic influence :

With the exception of the cover described in Article 6.5.2 (when used in the pit lane), the driver adjustable bodywork described in Article 3.18 and the ducts described in Article 11.4, any specific part of the car influencing its aerodynamic performance :

- must comply with the rules relating to bodywork ;
- must be rigidly secured to the entirely sprung part of the car (rigidly secured means not having any degree of freedom) ;
- must remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car.

Any device or construction that is designed to bridge the gap between the sprung part of the car and the ground is prohibited under all circumstances.

No part having an aerodynamic influence and no part of the bodywork, with the exception of the skid block in 3.13 above, may under any circumstances be located below the reference plane.

Sections 3.18 and 11.4 could potentially be applicable, and they are:

3.18 Driver adjustable bodywork :

A single closed section situated each side of car centre line in the volume bounded by :

- lines 450mm and 800mm in front of the front wheel centre line ;
- a vertical plane which intersects these lines at a distance 250mm from the car centre line ;
- and the inboard face of the bodywork described in Article 3.7.5 ;

is allowed to change incidence while the vehicle is in motion within a maximum range of 6°, provided any such change maintains compliance with all of the bodywork dimensional regulations.

Alteration of the incidence of these sections must be made simultaneously and may only be commanded by direct driver input and controlled using the control electronics specified in Article 8.2. Except when the car is in the pit lane, a maximum of two adjustments may be made within any single lap of a circuit.

11.4 Air ducts :

Air ducts around the front and rear brakes will be considered part of the braking system and shall not protrude beyond :

- a plane parallel to the ground situated at a distance of 160mm above the horizontal centre line of the wheel ;
- a plane parallel to the ground situated at a distance of 160mm below the horizontal centre line of the wheel ;
- a vertical plane parallel to the inner face of the wheel rim and displaced from it by 120mm toward the UcarU centre line.
Furthermore :
- when viewed from the side the ducts must not protrude forwards beyond a radius of 330mm from the centre of the wheel or backwards beyond a radius of 180mm from the centre of the wheel ;
- Uthe ducts may not rotate with the wheels nor may they, or any of their mountings, protrude axially beyond the outer face of the wheel fastenerU ;
- Uno part of the car, other than those specifically defined in Articles 12.8.1 and 12.8.2, may obscure any part of the wheel when viewed from the outside of the car towards the car centre line along the axis of the wheelU.

All measurements will be made with the wheel held in a vertical position.

Just an FYI, Section 3 is 'Bodywork and Dimensions' and Section 11 is Brake System. I haven't read all the way through the rules, based on my skimming these are all that apply from what I can tell. There may be addition clarifications or rules that I haven't see, but I don't know where to find them if that's the case.

I think the problem lies in that we don't fully understand exactly how the system works. At least I don't, so it's tough to make any sort of determination as to legality without all of the information.

[skidmark]

I think where the flex comes in is that the bodywork regulations outline only the dimensions of the assembly. Nowhere does it state that they can't be opened or closed inside the chassis.

There will be maximums applied to the openings on the sidepods and the engine vent, but no mention of any regulation forbidding any device that further constricts those openings.

So - as far as the FIA is concerned - if it isn't specifically forbidden, it must be legal. It's basically the same sort of loophole that was used to allow the double diffusers last season.

Credit McLaren with thinking outside the box. Now we'll have to see whether the device provides the benefits as advertised.

[Racehound]

Originally Posted by MSulka

Dog... You can't have it both ways here....

I thought the FIA was pro-Ferrari/Anti-McLaren ?

This decision doesn't seem to back that sentiment.

Thats the perception when Dennis was there, but now the FIA is run by Toad, and he was moved on along with Schuey to make way for Alonso!! Maybe he has a little hurt pride in there somewhere and wants to stuff Ferrari on the eve of the first race after they look like they have the strongest car. To hand 1 team a sudden advantage 1 day before 1st practice, stopping any other team responding, just seems ludicrous!! And everyone was looking forward to an exciting season?? I have no idea why the Technical Working Group has not got together to question McTricksters ethics over this, seeing as they are universally agreed that this wing "is not within the "spirit" of the rules" .

[Touchette]

Again, does anyone know how it actually works? Is there a valve of some kind in the airbox or what is it?

[Insighter]

This expains it, vaguely

http://www.racer.com/whitmarsh-rival...rticle/165546/

[MSulka]

Originally Posted by Touchette

Again, does anyone know how it actually works? Is there a valve of some kind in the airbox or what is it?

Basic upshot is front air intake on nose gets re-routed to rear wing based on driver movement of some device in cockpit.

But then again... Whitmarsh (McLaren Boss) said the reports about how it works have been wrong.