Front wheel covers - this seasons must have...

[Ciwai]

It still seems to me to be a blatant contravention of the rules re: movable aero devices, so it will be quite bizarre to see the field running with essentially illegal cars.

[bizadfar]

as far as I understood, they don't move. They just sit still at the same angle on the rim.

[modbaraban]

Ciwai probably meant the movement while steering + suspension movement that makes it moveble in 3D.
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FIF1 too:



other version by Williams:

[zac510]

Ciwai probably meant the movement while steering + suspension movement that makes it moveble in 3D.

Then the wheel, tyre may aswell be illegal too.

I don't see what problem people have with these apart from aesthetic reasons. I think they're very interesting and don't see any contradiction to the rules in any way.
I don't see any doubt that it's still a brake duct, although a very advanced one with a secondary effect. Can't blame Ferrari for wanting to minimise the negative effects of a brake duct.

[mx_tifoso]

FIF1 too: http://images.gpupdate.net/large/89471.jpg

I saw that pic last night too, but I came to a conclusion that those are not wheel fairing, but a sort of fan, since the rest of the car has cooling fans on it as well.

[Ian P.]

The legality of these fairings has been addressed and the FIA has backed themselves into a corner. One tight corner with specific limits.
As Sam M. said, they are brake ducts, which are permitted to move with the suspension and the wheels. Yep....there brake ducts.
Interesting comments about wake management from the front wheels as this affects all the aero bits behind the wheels and will also likely have a knock-on effect for bits in front of the wheels as well.
I do not for a second think this area of aero development has been mastered. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds over the 2008 season but my money is on seeing this aero development being banned for 2009.
Then we can expect to see assymetrical left and right wheels with ducts and fans built into the rims.
Can't wait......

[Ciwai]

Don't get me wrong, I think they're cool to see on the cars, and I'm always for technology that advances the state of the automobile, as these may be. My objections are basically of the sporting nature of the concept and its just mind-boggling to me that they got away with wheel covers that are essentially movable aerodynamic devices by calling them brake ducts. Have brake ducts ever been positioned on the opposite side of the wheel as the brake? A duct by definition is something tubular that channels a fluid. Sure, these components have openings but the surfaces are largely flat. Anyway I think any sensible engineer would not have considered this as a concept to explore due to it going beyond the letter and spirit of the rules. It would've been a waste of resources for any other team since its unlikely they would've passed scrutineering.

[Saribro]

A duct by definition is ...

"...an often enclosed passage or channel for conveying a substance, especially a liquid or gas." according to the dictionary.

[mini696]

As Sam M. said, they are brake ducts, which are permitted to move with the suspension and the wheels. Yep....there brake ducts.

Brake duct which are called "Rim Blankings" and..."need to step up the brake cooling"

Step up the brake cooling? After installing them? Then why do you use them?

[ben_watkins]

But why are these teams not being banned from the WCC? They have Ferrari technology on their cars, no? Rim blanking, brake ducts, whatever..

And Red Bull, they copied the front wing of the McLaren...

[scarbs]

They are legal because the FIA and the TWG agreed that any bodywork within the exisiting dimensions for brake ducts could be freed up. This was agreed two years ago because Ferrari and Toyota produced fins on the inside face of the brake duct, that were closed and produced no brake cooling. The teams then simply added a few small holes and the ducts were allowed. Seeing as the FIA coudnt enforce was constituted brake cooling, so they agreed with the teams to free this area up.

As these devices have been allowed by the FIA and as they meet the wording of the regulations, theres no point going on about thier legality. That said I'd like to see them banned, especially with the spectacle of night race next year, we all want to see Le Mans style glowing brake discs.

[bizadfar]

But why are these teams not being banned from the WCC? They have Ferrari technology on their cars, no? Rim blanking, brake ducts, whatever..

And Red Bull, they copied the front wing of the McLaren...

observation of the final product is different from blueprints.

It's just like with construction. No massive construction company is going to ever give anyone blueprints, but they"ll present you the final product.

[PNSD]

*cough cough*

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v452/ ... corner.jpg

edit - after more looking around, im guessing these move. but still how come f1 never then looked at the idea ???

http://automobile.2405.com/automobile_g ... B_2405.jpg

http://automobile.2405.com/automobile_g ... B_2405.jpg

also ive seen other group c racers with wheel covers, but these were good pics

[Ian P.]

Just because a "Brake Duct" restricts airflow to the brake assembly, doesn't mean it won't have a positive impact on the performance of the car. Performance is the goal in F1 and any decent race series.
If teams can configure ducts to put downforce directly into the suspension (and they do) then these stationary covers are no different. Just located inside the wheel rather than between the wheel and the bodywork.
As for the Mazda....GREAT pictures. If you look you can see the fins just under the cover. Make no mistake, these are dicted fans. Likely performing a dual function of drawing air through the brakes and moving air out from under the car. Always a good thing for reducing drag and gaining downforce.

[tomislavp4]

Why cant I see the pictures? Anyone else with the same problem?