Lotus E20 Renault

[superdread]

I wonder the reason why Lotus goes with that particular exhaust setup. They did race the forward facing exhausts, they must have learned something that caused them to pursue that route as opposed to all the other top teams.

It simplifies the sidepod internals and the rear end aerodynamics. And as it seems, they are not desperate for rear end downforce, maybe there is a system in the pipes and like Mercedes they will bring it to the track when it is mature enough to be raced and when they are sure to find setups that benefit from it.

In retrospect they consider the forwards facing exhaust a failure, because they build a complicated and compromising system, just to see that RB with its exhaust blown diffuser was simpler and more effective.

[hardingfv32]

I wonder the reason why Lotus goes with that particular exhaust setup. They did race the forward facing exhausts, they must have learned something that caused them to pursue that route as opposed to all the other top teams.

Last year the forward facing exhaust started the season with what was thought to be equal potential when compared to rear exhaust. The team made the commitment but as the season progressed the front exhaust design failed to improve at the same rate as the rear exhaust on the leading teams.

This year they choose an option that is showing equal development potential to the other major style in use and they are staying competitive to this point.

Brian

[dren]

I wonder the reason why Lotus goes with that particular exhaust setup. They did race the forward facing exhausts, they must have learned something that caused them to pursue that route as opposed to all the other top teams.

Last year the forward facing exhaust started the season with what was thought to be equal potential when compared to rear exhaust. The team made the commitment but as the season progressed the front exhaust design failed to improve at the same rate as the rear exhaust on the leading teams.

This year they choose an option that is showing equal development potential to the other major style in use and they are staying competitive to this point.

Brian

The forward exhaust showed better results in the wind tunnel than Lotus was able to replicate on track. It was very finicky.

[elf341]

Midway through 2011, Allison remarked of the forward exhaust, “It’s been less successful than we had hoped but it’s still been a very powerful concept. In the wind tunnel and in CFD, where we developed the concept, our model had suggested that the low-pressure area that would result from the exhaust would extend further down the car than it appears to do in reality. However, there are always differences between what you model and what you get.

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/17412

[rich1701]

I'm somewhat surprised they thought results from a 60% model in the windtunnel would be reliable for this concept as air effectively has less time to cool as it passes over the surfaces of a model that size

[godlameroso]

The concept is sound, the magnitude of the effect was overestimated, but non the less accurate. At the very least they could have learned how to guide the exhaust flow, perhaps they're trying to have the exhaust gases interact with the up wash caused by the beam-wing and the diffuser. So where as most top teams are trying to inject the hot gases at the start of the process ie the air travelling to through the floor and to the beam wing, lotus does it in a different part of the process ie after the diffuser and beam wing act on the air.

[FrukostScones]

[stefan_]

[superdread]

I like the evolution of the VD-intakes.
At the beginning they where blanked off with sticky tape.
Then they brought carbon fibre inserts.
And now they are closed right from the beginning.

[madly]

Is it new spec RW or old Monaco? They claimed new RW with bigger differences between normal, and open DRS state.
What is a purpose of circular yellow/gold tube inside left sidepod during car build?

Monaco RW:

[Joie de vivre]

new cascades

[Huntresa]

Wonder if they can make them lean more ? Like every GP they lean abit more xD

[illario]

i wanted to ask whether the hole in front has any connection with the exit hole from the underside of the car
Im trying to post the photo but...
http://awesomescreenshot.com/0c8gr5z36

[Owen.C93]

i wanted to ask whether the hole in front has any connection with the exit hole from the underside of the car
Im trying to post the photo but...
http://awesomescreenshot.com/0c8gr5z36

No. The rear one is for starter motor and the front one is for cooling of some sort, probably electronics.

[korzeniow]

i wanted to ask whether the hole in front has any connection with the exit hole from the underside of the car
Im trying to post the photo but...
http://awesomescreenshot.com/0c8gr5z36

No this hole has no aero purpose. It's for engineers to access things under the driver's seat, like KERS

As for embeding images, this usually work: right click on image and select "open in new tab", then copy url and use [img ] quotes to embed image on the forum