What Wheelbase for 2008??
Discussion
When Ferrari showed their new car at the start of 2007, every one commented at its long W/base against all the other designs and if it was better for the Bridgestones.
Well I think you can say it has been the best chassis over the season except the point and squirt cicuits with high kerbs which have gone to Mclaren.
So what way do you expect the teams to go for 2008?
I suppose the ideal is if you could have both and use what ever suits but I suppose there is something in the regs to stop this.
Well I think you can say it has been the best chassis over the season except the point and squirt cicuits with high kerbs which have gone to Mclaren.
So what way do you expect the teams to go for 2008?
I suppose the ideal is if you could have both and use what ever suits but I suppose there is something in the regs to stop this.
Would'nt that be stealing Ferrari ideas? 
I'm sure other teams have considered a longer wheelbase and chose not to go with them for whatever reason - weight distribution perhaps? does Ferrari not have a particularly light/compact gearbox? (or did I make that up?!)
Using a short and a long chassis for different tracks is an interesting idea. Think the rules would allow that; teams sometimes bring out 'next years' car towards the end of a season (if their current one is crap)

I'm sure other teams have considered a longer wheelbase and chose not to go with them for whatever reason - weight distribution perhaps? does Ferrari not have a particularly light/compact gearbox? (or did I make that up?!)
Using a short and a long chassis for different tracks is an interesting idea. Think the rules would allow that; teams sometimes bring out 'next years' car towards the end of a season (if their current one is crap)
Edited by Baldylocks on Tuesday 18th September 16:53
Baldylocks said:
Would'nt that be stealing Ferrari ideas? 
I'm sure other teams have considered a longer wheelbase and chose not to go with them for whatever reason - weight distribution perhaps? does Ferrari not have a particularly light/compact gearbox? (or did I make that up?!)
carefull, todt might ask the fia to investigate you for espionage.....
I'm sure other teams have considered a longer wheelbase and chose not to go with them for whatever reason - weight distribution perhaps? does Ferrari not have a particularly light/compact gearbox? (or did I make that up?!)
castrolcraig said:
Baldylocks said:
Would'nt that be stealing Ferrari ideas? 
I'm sure other teams have considered a longer wheelbase and chose not to go with them for whatever reason - weight distribution perhaps? does Ferrari not have a particularly light/compact gearbox? (or did I make that up?!)
carefull, todt might ask the fia to investigate you for espionage.....
I'm sure other teams have considered a longer wheelbase and chose not to go with them for whatever reason - weight distribution perhaps? does Ferrari not have a particularly light/compact gearbox? (or did I make that up?!)

Edited by 996 Nobbys on Tuesday 18th September 17:02
Dunit said:
I suppose the ideal is if you could have both and use what ever suits but I suppose there is something in the regs to stop this.
I don't think there is, because new cars get introduced during a season. For example the new Spyker.I think it's likely a performance issue, they are working flat out to get the most from the car they have to use to start using a different car at a half the circuits and double the testing/setup effort. I'm sure changing the wheelbase effects quite a lot of the aero package.
FourWheelDrift said:
Dunit said:
I suppose the ideal is if you could have both and use what ever suits but I suppose there is something in the regs to stop this.
I don't think there is, because new cars get introduced during a season. For example the new Spyker.I think it's likely a performance issue, they are working flat out to get the most from the car they have to use to start using a different car at a half the circuits and double the testing/setup effort. I'm sure changing the wheelbase effects quite a lot of the aero package.

Ding... next question please...

Way back in the 'good old days' if you wanted a longer w/base for certain tracks you would make up a splacer to fit between the roll hoop and the DFV. Shift the whole rear section back an inch or so.
I think these days it would be much more difficult to do - probably require new chassis designs, very different loads, extra weight that might offset the gain and, presumably, another crash test certificate.
Of course there may be more sophisticated ways to achieve the same results.
I think these days it would be much more difficult to do - probably require new chassis designs, very different loads, extra weight that might offset the gain and, presumably, another crash test certificate.
Of course there may be more sophisticated ways to achieve the same results.
The common practice was to increase the length of the bellhousing between the engine and gearbox, that way the weight of the engine stays as close to the centre of the tub as posible, plus all the cooling systems stay intact and dont need modifying.
They still vary the geometries all year round to suit the circuits, but the basic chassis concept and packaging is relatively fixed, which will limit how much the wheelbase is altered during the season.
They still vary the geometries all year round to suit the circuits, but the basic chassis concept and packaging is relatively fixed, which will limit how much the wheelbase is altered during the season.
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