Lateral Aerodynamics of a Generic Sprint Car Configuration

The aerodynamic characteristics of a sprint car model were tested in a small-scale wind tunnel. Lateral characteristics such as the side force and rolling moment were measured in addition to the vehicle's downforce and drag. Measured data indicated that during the rapid cornering of these race cars, lateral loads are as important as downforce. Since literature search revealed no aerodynamic data on such asymmetric vehicles, a typical baseline sprint car model was tested first with particular focus on large sideslip conditions. Modified wing and side fin geometries were also tested for improved visibility and in search for additional downforce. The experimental data indicate, for example, that a reduced endplate size of the main wing can improve driver visibility without significant loss of aerodynamic downforce.