zigwheels

KERS

Times of India Pictures: Dppi — 2011-10-14 18:22:24

KERS stands for Kinetic Energy Recovery System.The device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car's braking process.It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration.There are principally two types of system --battery (electrical) and flywheel (mechanical).Electrical systems use a motor-generator incorporated in the car's transmission which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa.Once the energy has been harnessed,it is stored in a battery and released when required.There is one other option available - - hydraulic KERS,where braking energy is used to accumulate hydraulic pressure which is then sent to the wheels when required.Currently the regulations permit the systems to convey a maximum of 60kw (approximately 80bhp),while the storage capacity is limited to 400 kilojoules.This means that the 80bhp is available for anything up to 6.67s per laps,which can be released either all in one go,or at different points around the circuit.Lap time benefits range from approximately 0.1 to 0.4s.There is a boost button on the steering wheel which is pressed by the driver whenever he needs the extra power.

Engine

Times of India — 2011-10-12 22:08:46

The engine of a Formula One is perhaps one of the most powerful and stressed pieces of machinery. Modern F1 engines owe little except their fundamental design of cylinders, pistons and valves to road-car engines.The engine is a stressed component within the car, bolting to the carbon fibre 'tub' and having the transmission and rear suspension bolted to it in turn. Therefore, it has to be enormously strong. A conflicting demand is that it should be light, compact and as low in position as possible to help lower the car's centre of gravity and to enable the height of rear bodywork to be minimised.

In the 1950s, F1 cars were managing specific power outputs of around 100 bhp/litre -- about what a modern 'performance' road car can manage now. That figure rose steadily until the arrival of the 'turbo age' of 1.5-litre turbo engines, some of which were producing anything up to 750 bhp/litre. Then, once the sport returned to normal aspiration in 1989 that figure fell back, before steadily rising again. The 'power battle' of the last few years saw outputs creep back towards the 1000 bhp barrier. Since 2006,the regulations have required the use of 2.4-litre V8 engines, with power outputs falling around 20 percent. Revving to a limited 18,000 rpm, a modern Formula One engine will consume a phenomenal 450-litres of air every second, with race fuel consumption typically around the 75 l/100 km (4 mpg) mark. Revving at such massive speeds equates to an accelerative force on the pistons of more than 8000 times gravity. Not surprisingly, engine-related failures remain one of the most common causes of retirement in races.

A freeze on engine development imposed at the end of the 2006 season means teams are unable to alter the fundamentals of their engines' design.

Tyres

2011-09-27 15:20:16

With Pirelli as the sole tyre supplier to the sport in a three-year contract that begins with the 2011 season, everything has changed. The Italian tyre manufacturer has unveiled a unique colour coding system for all the compounds that they have developed for the 2011 season - super soft, soft, medium, hard and even for the wet and intermediate tyres. The Pirelli and P-Zero logos will appear in the varying colours depending on what tyre they are on

Suspension

Team ZigWheels — 2011-09-27 14:58:49

As in any road car, the suspension on an F1 car is equally important in determining how the car drives around a track. Different circuits on the F1 calendar require different suspension settings based on the surface and how bumpy the track is. The height and nature of curbs around a corner also greatly influence the suspension setup

Race strategy

Team ZigWheels — 2011-09-27 14:55:10

Having a fast car alone does not necessarily win an F1 race. The strategy behind each race is extremely important - the wrong strategy can ruin a perfectly good race for an F1 driver. Race strategies involve calculating the amount of fuel to be filled in the car, the lap when a driver needs to stop for fuel and tyres and otherfacts during the race

Pit stops

Team ZigWheels — 2011-09-27 14:50:02

A modern pit stop will have an average duration of just 6 - 7 seconds. F1 is a team sport and the swarm of mechanics around the car not only refuel it to their requirments, but also change all four tyres and make adjustments to the aerodynamics as well. Pit crews practice pit stops for long periods of time before making them inch-perfect and precise

The race start

Team ZigWheels — 2011-09-27 14:45:27

Agood start can make or break a race for a driver. Race starts in Formula 1 are signaled by a row of five red lights that illuminate one after the other and then go off to indicate the start. The car in pole positionrntheoretically has the advantage at the start but in realistic terms a lotrndepends on the drivers reaction time and fuel loads

Steering wheel

Team ZigWheels — 2011-09-27 14:20:30

Steering wheels on modern F1 cars are not just means for steering the front wheels. The steering wheel is also the central command interface for a driver with his car. The driver can adjust various dynamic functions of the car through buttons and dials on the wheel including brake bias, fuel mixtures, KERS functions and even shift gears

Race control

Team ZigWheels — 2011-09-27 14:13:05

The race control is like the brain of a Formula 1 weekend. While different tracks may have varied facilities, the race control is enerally comprised of key essential features that help the FIA RacernDirector and his staff keep things as legal as possible. The race controlrngets live feeds from various sources around the track including speeds and times of each car

Overtaking

Team ZigWheels — 2011-09-27 14:05:20

The past few years had seen some very boring races with little or none overtaking happening on track. To make things a lot more interesting, the FIA along with a commity to improve and encourage overtaking movesrnduring the race instead of in the pit stops, set up a new set of rules inrn2009. Overtaking is not only great to watch but it also wins races