Thread: Mark Gillan on new machines Toro Rosso, Caterham and Marussia

Mark Gillan on new machines Toro Rosso, Caterham and Marussia

Well-known British journalist James Allen asked Mark Gillan, the former chief engineer Williams, to analyze the features of the new machines Toro Rosso, Marussia and Caterham presented in Jerez.
Toro Rosso STR8
Mark Gillan: "Comments chief designer Luca Furbetta quite eloquent, and if in the development of aerodynamics STR7 team really stumped, significant mechanical changes in the system and the points of attachment of the suspension can help to ensure interoperability with other major components of the chassis and opens up new possibilities of modernization of the machine.

This strike one that the attachment point of the rear suspension were really changed. In General, the machine shown in the presentation, not too different from last year's from the point of view of aerodynamics, although I haven't seen the back of the machine and the diffuser, which, according to Furbetta,too, are different.
Among the notable differences can be called the nose without step, new cooling systems, brake air ducts reprofiled lateral pontoons and upgraded mirrors. Although, as a rule, change the design mirrors gives not much, just 0.005 units aerodynamic efficiency between the different versions, or polpunkta, as would say experts in aerodynamics.
However, every engineer takes advantage of these half PIP. For reference, the three points correspond approximately 0.1 seconds on the circle.
Caterham CT03
Mark Gillan: Technical Director mark Smith said that the main change in the car have become more compact side pontoons. Inclined to agree, because with the exception of minor changes in the design of the arc security, additional air vents above and below the side pontoons and small changes fairings associated with the exhaust system with the Coanda effect, the machine is very similar to last year.

Smith argues that the original version of the chassis base, and later update. The distinctive feature of this machine can be called the reduced cooling ducts for the front brakes. The cascade elements in the area of the ducts rear brakes looks less aggressive than most other machines, and Caterham last year experienced difficulties in this area, possibly due to problems with correlation of data obtained in a wind tunnel.
Since the brake ducts can affect the lift force generated by the wheels, as opposed clamping force, which generates the machine body, to assess the relative effectiveness of these elements is difficult, because the load acting on the suspension change not only forces acting on the wheel: it is therefore necessary to use imaging technology of the thread associated with these parts of the machine, and to compare these data with the results obtained in the wind tunnel.



Marussia MR02
"Among all teams, Marussia, probably held the most serious work on upgrading his car 2013th year because they needed to introduce into it the KERS system, supplied by Williams. Integration of the KERS system in the car inevitably leads to significant layout changes that may affect the weight distribution.

Depending on available resources, it is likely that most of the elements of the machine were analysed for reducing their size and weight. This had to be done in order to guarantee that the machine will fit into the weight limit and engineers will be able to use the ballast. The ballast allows you to adjust the weight of the machine, and simultaneously to provide a lower center of gravity.
At the same time, the air intake of the engine, located in the arch of security, radiator cooling the side pontoons, the channel system Coanda, the bottom geometry and the geometry of the motor casing has changed quite a bit. The introduction of KERS, likely to affect further modification of the casing, but further work in the wind tunnel McLaren (while McLaren works in the pipe Toyota) certainly will lead to improved cooling of the machine.
An additional 0.3 seconds, achieved by the use of KERS, will allow better car to accelerate, and will also help in the attack and defense of positions in the race."