F1 in Schools 2015

[Sofia]

No they are not (the wheels as narrow and close together) which is something we are working on! Although the rules are quite limiting we are working o a very different design for nationals that I shall post as soon as it is developed!

[Sofia]

In terms of bringing the wheels together, how exactly will that help improve the car's performance? I know in terms of the front wheels that means we can reduce some of the ram surface, but in the case where the front wheels and back wheels are a different distance apart, could that not create problems?

[sgth0mas]

Bringing the wheels in and making them narrower will first reduce frontal area (thus drag) and then rolling resistance.

I cant see a problem with front and back being different widths, but i would make both as narrow as possible.

[Drewd11]

Not sure if car to track-side collisions occur, but if they are of concern, it may be that narrowing the wheel width could create a larger angle of incidence with the rails on the sides, and there could be positive efficiency to be gained from a wider track width,causing the car to have shallower collisions with the walls, despite increased frequency of collision and aerodynamic inefficiencies due to the increased track width.

[sgth0mas]

Not sure if car to track-side collisions occur, but if they are of concern, it may be that narrowing the wheel width could create a larger angle of incidence with the rails on the sides, and there could be positive efficiency to be gained from a wider track width,causing the car to have shallower collisions with the walls, despite increased frequency of collision and aerodynamic inefficiencies due to the increased track width.

Its actually on a guide wire...so it should stay straight.

and if i understand you correctly, youre talking directly about the geometric effects of a wider car being closer to the wall thus less room to generate a higher angle of impact. Im really not sure what efficiences you say will Be gained...unless you literally mean the car will bounce at a shallower angle down the track like a pin ball (but again its on a guide wire). There is also a host of other factors that would have to go into play to make that accurate such as slip, steering input (which doesnt exist either), and more.

If i have misunderstood, will you please detail it a bit more? Remember this will be used in an academic comletition so the team needs to back a lot of the desigN decisions up in a report and presentation.