We let you take the wheel of the Renault-powered Caterham CT03 Formula 1 car normally driven by Frenchman Charles Pic and Dutchman Giedo van der Garde.
But before you go for a spin, let’s review the various buttons, switches and dials of the hand-made, carbon fibre steering wheel.
Let’s start with the top portion
N (yellow): Puts gearbox in neutral
KERS (white): Activates KERS
TALK (red): To talk to the team by radio
10 – (green): To change a selected value by increments of 10
SC: Safety car (when running behind the SC)
MID (purple dial): To adjust differential in the middle of the corners
EXIT: (purple dial): To adjust differential at the exit of the corners
PIT (red): Speed limiter in the pit lane
WING: To activate DRS (Drag Reduction System)
ACK: To acknowledge message
1 + (green): To change a selected value by increments of 1
DRINK: To drink during the race
KERS (green dial): To make adjustments to the KERS
Green dial: Used to change multi-function map settings for RPM (torque settings, changes torque delivery), KERS (changes KERS maps), OIL (activates reserve oil tank) and DEF (various sensors)
Let’s continue with the bottom portion
OVER TAKE (white): To increase temporarily engine power to pass a rival
ENTRY: (purple dial): To adjust differential at the entry of the corners
CLUTCH: To change clutch settings
MIX (red dial): To change engine maps to save fuel, for example
PC BPF (white): Bite Point Finder, used to accurately measure the clutch bite point
TORQUE (black dial): To change engine torque, when driving in the rain, for example
TYRE (black dial): changed for each tire type and used to enable ECU to know what compound is on the car. Dry tires are obviously less circumference than full wets and inters so each setting tells the car’s brain what tire is on it
REV (red): To change maximum revving speed of the engine
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| Photo: WRi2 |
But before you go for a spin, let’s review the various buttons, switches and dials of the hand-made, carbon fibre steering wheel.
Let’s start with the top portion
 |
| Photo: WRi2 |
N (yellow): Puts gearbox in neutral
KERS (white): Activates KERS
TALK (red): To talk to the team by radio
10 – (green): To change a selected value by increments of 10
SC: Safety car (when running behind the SC)
MID (purple dial): To adjust differential in the middle of the corners
EXIT: (purple dial): To adjust differential at the exit of the corners
PIT (red): Speed limiter in the pit lane
WING: To activate DRS (Drag Reduction System)
ACK: To acknowledge message
1 + (green): To change a selected value by increments of 1
DRINK: To drink during the race
KERS (green dial): To make adjustments to the KERS
Green dial: Used to change multi-function map settings for RPM (torque settings, changes torque delivery), KERS (changes KERS maps), OIL (activates reserve oil tank) and DEF (various sensors)
Let’s continue with the bottom portion
 |
| Photo: WRi2 |
OVER TAKE (white): To increase temporarily engine power to pass a rival
ENTRY: (purple dial): To adjust differential at the entry of the corners
CLUTCH: To change clutch settings
MIX (red dial): To change engine maps to save fuel, for example
PC BPF (white): Bite Point Finder, used to accurately measure the clutch bite point
TORQUE (black dial): To change engine torque, when driving in the rain, for example
TYRE (black dial): changed for each tire type and used to enable ECU to know what compound is on the car. Dry tires are obviously less circumference than full wets and inters so each setting tells the car’s brain what tire is on it
REV (red): To change maximum revving speed of the engine