RE: Caterham R500 Superlight Revealed

[RobM77]

dino ferrana said:

Thing is that those cycle wings actually have a part to play in a 66% reduction in front end lift for the CSR, I think they were one of the biggest influences on this. I did see figures once for what each bit did and the slotted nose cone, carbon whiskers and wings all played a part.

The first thing I noticed when going from racing Metros to Caterhams was that when turning in to fast bends at the same speed in both cars, the Caterham had noticeable front end lift that the Metro lacked. It's a strange effect, not like understeer, just a lightening of the front end. For instance, at Donny, I think the last Craner curve before the Old Hairpin is taken at about 110mph in the Caterham (probably about 100mph in the Metro) - both cars are flat in fourth. There's quite a noticeable lack of front end grip from the 7 in that bend. Given that this bend is flat in my 115bhp Rdspt A 7, and the R500 can do 150mph, I dread to think what it's like in an R500!

Blimey I want one

[scorcher]

Those cycle wings would look alot better if they actually sat somewhere close to the tyre.They cant be doing much for the aerodynamics ( i know they dont have much anyway but "every little helps&quot