Lotus Renault GP

[rogerch]

How about a Lotus Lada, I can feel the synergy.

[Bibs]

Imagine...

[gtornes78]

Ahem... You could argue a tradition here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAusVsL7xUY

Edit: Bibs just beat me to it..

Edited February 1, 2011 by gtornes78

[USAndretti42]

Big question many seem to be asking though, is where's the exhaust?

Like you and me, the exhaust comes out its bottom. All the better to energize the flow through the diffuser. The trick thing, according to the rumours, is that it comes out near the front of the sidepod rather near the back like most cars did last year.

[fmxa]

Black and gold looks ace, I'm just not 100% into the red Total end plates yet

[Kimbers]

You would be mistaken, from the side view to think its a Lada Renault!

Shouldn't it be referred to as a Lotus Lada Renault?

[gtornes78]

Best possible expanation yet from Craig Scarborough?

http://twitter.com/S...382814951313408

Direct link to illustration:

http://twitpic.com/3vf0o2

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But a free-flowing exhaust is better for engine performance than a one where the gasses have to navigate more bend is the pipe work, meaning there is more back pressure in the engine, killing the performance of the engine

Not always true. When the cams are tuned for maximum performance theres a massive overlap in exhaust and intake valves as the exhaust leaving the chamber can help pull in more fresh air. If there's no (or little) backpressure in the exhaust and the exhaust leaves the chamber too quickly and easily then you end up with the fresh air charge following it and reduced power. This can happen on N/A road cars when people put in "sport" exhausts and remove the cats and wonder why they are down on power.

The problems stack up in that under some circumstances the air volume entering a F1 car at high speed is massive and you can end up with the intake airbox under pressure and in this case you don't want any overlap and the minimum exhaust restriction possible. But when you slow down and this "ram air effect" drops then you want almost the complete opposite. F1 cars can change the valve timing no problem but the exhaust is static.

As with everything it's a compromise.

[AntonyPeacock]

Here is an explanation that has turned up

ScarbsF1 is the technical wizard of F1. He revealed where the Renault exhaust system is. It took some looking & Renault were right when they said it is innovative!

So where are they? Shall I tell you? I know you're dying to find out.

Alright, enough of that tease. Scarbs has revealed that the exhausts are in fact not at the rear of the car at all. They're at the front of the sidepods! See the diagram below!

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Lets hope they got the heat management sums right.

Teams were having enough problems with the blown diffusers causing parts to fail. Now renault going for the blown floor approach that'll make some things quite warm.

[gtornes78]

First proper picture of it:

[gghc87]

be interesting to see the aerodynamic effects of this in the wind tunnel

[wookiecj]

Not always true. When the cams are tuned for maximum performance theres a massive overlap in exhaust and intake valves as the exhaust leaving the chamber can help pull in more fresh air. If there's no (or little) backpressure in the exhaust and the exhaust leaves the chamber too quickly and easily then you end up with the fresh air charge following it and reduced power. This can happen on N/A road cars when people put in "sport" exhausts and remove the cats and wonder why they are down on power.

The problems stack up in that under some circumstances the air volume entering a F1 car at high speed is massive and you can end up with the intake airbox under pressure and in this case you don't want any overlap and the minimum exhaust restriction possible. But when you slow down and this "ram air effect" drops then you want almost the complete opposite. F1 cars can change the valve timing no problem but the exhaust is static.

As with everything it's a compromise.

Quite right, it's a complex mix of the above coupled with tube diameter and length. Unless the cylinders are treated differently they go to great lengths to try and arrange the effective lengths of each pipe to be the same. If they aren't, they can arrange for the backpressure to be equalised at the cylinder outlets by varying the length/diameter on an as required basis. As each outlet from the cylinder joins with its compatriots the 'combined' outlet will change in diameter (or not) to cope with the extra flow which would affect or determin the backpressure.

Most teams have experts who major in the production of exhausts. It's not the sort of job where if you can lay up the fibres for a tub then you can probably do the same for a wing or an intake and then go on to smack an exhaust sytem together, it's very highly specialised.

Edited February 1, 2011 by wookie

[Bibs]

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=42873

^ The plot thickens - Dany Bahar appointed to the board of one of the companies that owns the team.

This is hard work, I think I could go on mastermind and get a decent score still though but Lotus vs. Lotus would keep the researchers busy!

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Quite right, it's a complex mix of the above coupled with tube diameter and length. Unless the cylinders are treated differently they go to great lengths to try and arrange the effective lengths of each pipe to be the same. If they aren't, they can arrange for the backpressure to be equalised at the cylinder outlets by varying the length/diameter on an as required basis. As each outlet from the cylinder joins with its compatriots the 'combined' outlet will change in diameter (or not) to cope with the extra flow which would affect or determin the backpressure.

Most teams have experts who major in the production of exhausts. It's not the sort of job where if you can lay up the fibres for a tub then you can probably do the same for a wing or an intake and then go on to smack an exhaust sytem together, it's very highly specialised.

The other reason for the same effective length is that they want each combustion pulse shockwave to be separate and join together in the gaps so as not to interfere with each other.

From a cosworth V10

[simonb]

http://www.pitpass.c...es_art_id=42873

^ The plot thickens - Dany Bahar appointed to the board of one of the companies that owns the team.

This is hard work, I think I could go on mastermind and get a decent score still though but Lotus vs. Lotus would keep the researchers busy!

Lotus could not be for sale, or under dilited ownership whilst it is begging for Government money (or going to the banks), but this would make sense if Genii are taking a stake in Lotus, in return for capital injection.

Giving an unsold space on a racecar they own in return, or using that racecar to increase the value of the car company they own a share in would however make sense

It also strikes me as being quite odd that the word Genii is more prominent on the car than the word Lotus (as Lotus are title sponsor)

[USAndretti42]

But, so far, we will have a Renault chassis on the grid that is not made or owned by Renault and a Lotus chassis in the grid that is now made or owned by Lotus. There again, we have had Mercedes, Ford, TAG engines on the grid none of which was designed or made by the company with its name on the cam covers and the Lotus 78s were entered as JPS Mk III's. I'm fairly unflustered about having 2 "Lotus" teams on the grid. It hedges their bets so one may do well when the other struggles. My biggest worry is that Group Lotus will win the court case (after all the appeals are done) and 1Malaysia Racing lose their constructor's winnings. Now that would be unfair as they have been rightly earned.

[NedaSay]

Ok so the exhaust will be copied by all teams if it works!

Now let's talk money shall we! Lotus, Lada, Renault are now all involved in one team! Wow this is good marketing! GenII is now appearing on the sidepods! After begging for their 'own' money last year they decided to inject more in their team this year! Or did they put a sticker that is clearly saying space for rent !? Gone are HP, Diac, Snoras Bank...!!!

Do they really need four test driver! Three of which will not touch the car at all! Or did they recruit Grosjean, Fauzy, Senna and Tong to put pressure on Petrov! Let's be logical for a sec the only drivers who could hope for a race seat are Fauzy thanks to his Proton connection and Senna thanks to the Telcel money he must be bringing!

Really I'd like to believe that this team has a shot in the championship but really!

Edited February 1, 2011 by NedaSay

[AntonyPeacock]

we will have a Renault chassis on the grid that is not made or owned by Renault

the chassis was developed during the 2011 season when Renault were still involved in the team, so it is a Renault chassis

I'm fairly unflustered about having 2 "Lotus" teams on the grid.

There isn't.

There is one Lotus team (Fernandes' Team Lotus)

And one Renault team sponsored by Group Lotus (Lotus Renault GP)

[rogerch]

I must agree, there's a car running around the current tests, clearly called a Renault on the time sheets. No confusion for me.

[Iconic Ride]

My head hurts......

[USAndretti42]

the chassis was developed during the 2011 season when Renault were still involved in the team, so it is a Renault chassis

I must agree, there's a car running around the current tests, clearly called a Renault on the time sheets. No confusion for me.

As I said, there is a Renault chassis out there.

However, Renault has withdrawn as a constructor. The team is not owned by Renault. It was only partly-owned by Renault last year. It is not being run or being built by Renault.

[AntonyPeacock]

As I said, there is a Renault chassis out there.

However, Renault has withdrawn as a constructor. The team is not owned by Renault. It was only partly-owned by Renault last year. It is not being run or being built by Renault.

Yes, I understand that but because Renault did make the chassis, it is a Renault, and they will be most likely keeping it as a Renault until the current Concorde Agreement runs out to keep the FOM money

[Advantage]

No one has claimed anything else Antony.

[ramjet]

I'm with Mr Heath.

I have also decided that I am no longer going to have any opinion on this whatsoever. If I watch this year, I'll cheer for whoever I feel like and I'll be happy.

Personally I don't see much difference between 4 Lotus cars going round and around versus the Red Bulls and the Toro Rosso cars. At least the Lotus are going to be different colours.

Edited February 2, 2011 by ramjet