Here's an interesting video that shows how works the new moveable rear wing fitted on the 2011 Formula 1 cars.
The rear wing of an F1 car generates not only massive downforce but also an incredible amount of drag (turbulences).
Reducing drag automatically increases the top speed (Vmax) of the vehicle. And that's exactly what the Moveable Rear Wing (MRW) to be introduced this year is designed to accomplish in order to facilitate the passing manoeuvres.
"Increasing the slot gap between the main element of the rear wing and the top flap will reduce drag, and as a consequence, downforce," Toyota Motorsport's Technical Director Pascal Vasselon told Auto123.com.
"By pressing on a button, a mechanism will lift the front portion of the flap, called the leading edge, around a pivot point located at the rear section, called the trailing edge. This will cause the airflow to separate. It will reduce drag and increase top speed of the car by something like 7 to 13 km/h," Vasselon added.
Rear wing regulations at present require a minimum slot gap of 10 mm between the main plane and the flap of the rear wing. The regulations governing the MRW will allow a maximum 50-mm slot gap between the two main planes when the MRW is activated.
The MRW will only be activated upon the driver pressing a special button on his steering wheel, and the wing will stay in its low-drag position until the driver applies the brakes. It will also return to default position if the driver crosses another timing loop having already passed his rival on the track.
The rear wing of an F1 car generates not only massive downforce but also an incredible amount of drag (turbulences).
Reducing drag automatically increases the top speed (Vmax) of the vehicle. And that's exactly what the Moveable Rear Wing (MRW) to be introduced this year is designed to accomplish in order to facilitate the passing manoeuvres.
"Increasing the slot gap between the main element of the rear wing and the top flap will reduce drag, and as a consequence, downforce," Toyota Motorsport's Technical Director Pascal Vasselon told Auto123.com.
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| Cutaway of the rear wing. Left: Maximum downforce and drag. Right: Reduced downforce and drag. (Illustration: Auto123.com) |
"By pressing on a button, a mechanism will lift the front portion of the flap, called the leading edge, around a pivot point located at the rear section, called the trailing edge. This will cause the airflow to separate. It will reduce drag and increase top speed of the car by something like 7 to 13 km/h," Vasselon added.
Rear wing regulations at present require a minimum slot gap of 10 mm between the main plane and the flap of the rear wing. The regulations governing the MRW will allow a maximum 50-mm slot gap between the two main planes when the MRW is activated.
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| Photo of the rear wing of the new Red Bull RB7. Note the pivots at the back of the flap. (Photo: WRI2) |
The MRW will only be activated upon the driver pressing a special button on his steering wheel, and the wing will stay in its low-drag position until the driver applies the brakes. It will also return to default position if the driver crosses another timing loop having already passed his rival on the track.