What are the emerging technologies in motorsport?

[Chris71]

What do people reckon are going to be the big stories in motorsport engineering over the next few years?

Hybrids (electric or mechanical)?

Bio-fuel?

Self-optimising CFD programs?

Curious to hear peoples' take on it.

[Nic Jones]

KERS?

[Chris71]

Nic Jones said:

KERS?

I think so - kind of grouped that in with hybrids though.

[Get Karter]

Collision Avoidance Systems

Sato to test drive

[Sf_Manta]

Hydrogen powered combustion....

Being what's been developed in Formula Student is anything to go by

[MrKipling43]

Continued development of fibre-reinforced plastics?

Tyre technology?

[rude-boy]

Nic Jones said:

KERS?

Bit of a touchy subject, as in don't touch the fricking car or you'll get frazzelled!

[hifihigh]

perhaps in F1 they should open up the engine regs. sc/turbos/kers are unlimited but u have to run the whole race on 150 litres of fuel or whatever is reasonable. It would make F1 relevant to car development again.

[kambites]

hifihigh said:

perhaps in F1 they should open up the engine regs. sc/turbos/kers are unlimited but u have to run the whole race on 150 litres of fuel or whatever is reasonable. It would make F1 relevant to car development again.

Reliance on strict fuel regs would lead to manufacturers running massive power at certain points in the race (off the line, for example) which would probably lead to some pretty horrific accidents. Would make it interesting tactically though.

[hifihigh]

idk for sure but i think there were similar regs in the 80's and it led to some brilliant stuff like mansell vs piquet silverstone 87 so it's all good to me.

EDIT: I am too young to remember the 80's F1 era first hand so if anyone would like to point out the negatives of the turbo era plz feel free..

Edited by hifihigh on Wednesday 13th August 18:34

[mchammer89]

rude-boy said:

Nic Jones said:

KERS?

Bit of a touchy subject, as in don't touch the fricking car or you'll get frazzelled!

Nice wording

[absolutely]

Sf_Manta said:

Hydrogen powered combustion....

Being what's been developed in Formula Student is anything to go by

From my experience (Motorsport Eng masters) FS and motorsport don't directly collerate.