Since the cornering speed depends on friction between tyres and tarmac, and friction depends on vertical force which is equal to the sum of car's weight and lift force generated by low pressure area beneath the car the bigger the pressure-fall is, the better the car performs. That phenomenon is known as ground-effect.

Car will literally be sucked to the ground. If the bottom of the car is shaped correctly, it is possible to create a low-pressure area under the car. Since air is also considered a fluid, it could simply be applied to a racing car's aerodynamics as well. It basically states that when a fluid flows through a constriction, its speed will rise and pressure will fall. The ground-effect is based on Bernoulli's equation, known as one of the basics of Fluid Mechanics Theory. The Lotus 78 real car did not emulate the model's values entirely, having about 75% of the predicted downforce but what remained was nevertheless impressive. Two years before, Peter Wright, Colin Chapman and Tony Rudd conceived of the idea and tested the scale model in a wind tunnel. The sidepods weren't sealed against the ground and were situated too high to have any effect beside not causing additional drag while making room for extra fuel needed for thirstier races.īrabham and McLaren experimented with air dams beneath the car but it took some more time until, in 1977, the first proper ground-effect car appeared: the Lotus 78 or, as it was called at the time, John Player Special Mk. March was the first to use profiled sidepods on a full-size race car in 1970.

It built upon the ground effect foundations that were laid by the Lotus 78 and added several mechanical features that are still standard in today's F1 cars.īRM's Tony Rudd first tested the theory in practice, using scale models in the late 60s. The Lotus 79 proved to be one of the most succesful Lotus cars ever built. Active: 1978 - 1979 Team: Team Lotus Team: Peter Wright, Colin Chapman, Tony Rudd, Martin Ogilvie Drivers: Mario Andretti (5, 1978 / 6, 1979), Ronnie Peterson (6, 1978), Jean Pierre Jarier (55, 1978), Carlos Reutemann (2, 1979), Hector Rebaque (as privateer, 31, 1979) Team name: John Player Team Lotus (1978), Martini Racing Team Lotus (1979), Team Rebaque (1979)

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