What the Mazda RX-8 should have been (new autocross car build)

John V · 03-28-2019, 07:14 AM

I mean, the wing is huge. It's as wide as the car and is a dual element.

Regarding the splitter. It doesn't really provide any downforce. The goal of the splitter is to limit the amount of fast-moving air that flows under the car. Because most cars are essentially wing-shaped, they experience lift as they move through the air. If you minimize the amount of air under the car you minimize that lift effect.

The way the rules are written, the amount of rear downforce available due to the wing far exceeds the lift reduction due to the splitter. And the wing is obviously less effective at lower speeds. The idea is the car can be set up on the loose (oversteer) side at low speeds where you want and need a lot of rotation, and at higher speeds the car will tighten up (neutral to understeer) making it easier to drive through fast transitions.

03-28-2019, 07:14 AM	#11
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	I mean, the wing is huge. It's as wide as the car and is a dual element. Regarding the splitter. It doesn't really provide any downforce. The goal of the splitter is to limit the amount of fast-moving air that flows under the car. Because most cars are essentially wing-shaped, they experience lift as they move through the air. If you minimize the amount of air under the car you minimize that lift effect. The way the rules are written, the amount of rear downforce available due to the wing far exceeds the lift reduction due to the splitter. And the wing is obviously less effective at lower speeds. The idea is the car can be set up on the loose (oversteer) side at low speeds where you want and need a lot of rotation, and at higher speeds the car will tighten up (neutral to understeer) making it easier to drive through fast transitions.