“We reverted to a more conventional sidepod shape for this season because the U-shape was less suited to the new exhaust geometry restrictions. For 2012, the exhaust tailpipes now have to exit along the U-channel – so that particular feature was no longer really viable due to the new geometry restrictions. As a result, we decided to adopt a different approach to the way we feed the rear of the car. We have cleaned up the roll-hoop area and now have much tighter rear bodywork.”
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| Caption: McLaren MP4-27 |
Goss continued, talking about the new exhausts.”The regulations around the exhausts are very prescriptive: the exhausts must now exit within a very tight space at the rear of the car in order to minimise their aerodynamic influence. The final 100mm of the exhausts must be cylindrical and must be sited at a particular vertical and horizontal angle, between 10 and 30 degrees upwards.
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| Caption: McLaren MP4-27 |
“In previous years, the exhausts exited directly into the rear corner of the floor; we can’t do that any more so, as you’d expect, that changes the flow characteristics at the rear of the car. The knock-on effect is that all of the aerodynamic devices at the rear of the car have had to be re-designed.”
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| McLaren drivers, Gary Paffett, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Oliver Turvey. (Photo: McLaren) |
Following a one-day private shakedown, Jenson Button will begin track testing of the MP4-27 at Spain’s Circuito de Jerez on Tuesday February 7.