Williams Toyota Still Toying with KERS for 2010

KERS - Kinetic Energy Recovery System

Williams Toyota is still considering running KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) in the 2010 Formula 1 season. This would conflict with the FOTA’s ban KERS in 2010 but Williams is not apart of FOTA as they chose to break ranks and sign up for the 2010 Formula 1 season during the FOTA vs. FIA battle.

The FOTA KERS ban is considered a gentleman’s agreement among the FOTA members but Williams has continued to develop their flywheel KERS system throughout the year as the technical regulations will permit teams to use the controversial hybrid system in 2010.

One FOTA member that may want to consider reviewing the KERS ban is McLaren, who have built a reliable system and used it in many races this season.

Source: MSN Sports

Clutch Test – Formula 1 Auto Parts

This test shows the extremes that clutch on a Formula 1 racer can endure. This clutch can handle temperatures up to 1400C and beyond. Your everyday car clutch would not be be able to take this type abuse, unless of course you splurge and go for the Carbon-Carbon upgrade.

todpoli” (Youtube alias) explains:

“The idea in this testing is to determine if the Carbon-Carbon friction coefficient remains stable during this simulated slipping. The problem most F-1 cars have is the initial take-off from the start line. Because of the high RPM and total energy input, many materials cannot withstand the 1400 C temperatures without fading or losing friction completely. For this reason we test new materials to make sure the friction coefficient is stable through all conditions including initial humidity effects on C-C composites. Since C-C absorbs moisture when not used at high enough temps, the initial engagement may have a low friction coefficient at the beginning of the torque curve which is extremely important at the start of the race. C-C can be heat treated and doped with other materials to enhance the properties to ensure stable friction throughout the acceleration.”

Formula 1 Steering Wheel Picture and Guide

This Formula 1 steering wheel from BMW shows how much input a Formula 1 driver deals with on race day.  The steering wheels have an amazing amount of functionality, from setting the differential, to having a drink to even confirming the tire choice at the upcoming pit stop.

Formula 1 steering wheels are hand made and cost around $30,000 each. They weigh less than three pounds and are made from carbon fiber and electrical components. Although it would be a great addition to any motorsport-loving guy or gal’s vehicle, good luck trying to find a steering wheel cover that fits it.

Source: auto123.com

‘KERS Not Relevant to Road Cars According to Mercedes Engineer

KERS - Kinetic Energy Recovery System

McLaren-Mercedes is the only Formula 1 team that has run KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) on both of its cars in every race this season. McLaren has developed two different KERS. One system is electric and uses batteries to store power, while the other is mechanical and uses a flywheel to store power.

A source inside the engineering department has stated that neither KERS system currently has an application for road vehicles at this time. McLaren managing director Anthony Sheriff recently said, “What’s important is that it’s pushing the envelope of battery technology to its limits and that has got to be good news.”

Source: Autoblog

Ferrari Scrambles as Questionable Diffuser Design Ruled Legal

Formula 1 Diffuser

The complaints over the double-decker rear diffuser designs have been rejected as the diffusers were ruled legal by the FIA’s International Court of Appeal. Brawn, Toyota and Williams were all using the different diffusers which are believed to give the cars at least a half second advantage per lap.

Following the recent ruling, Ferrari stated that they have no choice but to modify the Ferrari F60 in 2009 in order to be able to compete.

Ferrari have gotten off to a horrible 2009 campaign as team drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen haven’t secured even one point in the first two races.

Source: Formula1.com

Will BMW Sauber have KERS for Australia Opener?

KERS - Kinetic Energy Recovery System

Nick Heidfeld has said that BMW Sauber has yet to make a decision on whether the or not they will be using a kinetic energy recovery system for the opening race in Melbourne, Australia.

Williams and Toyota have stated that they will not have cars with KERS on the starting grid. Red Bull has announced that they might postpone the introduction of their KERS system.

BMW Sauber is believed to have one of the most advanced kinectic energy recovery systems and has been one of the biggest supporters of the technology in Formula 1. The precise benefits gained by using the KERS is still not known. While the system delivers an instant horsepower boost at the driver’s command, the system adds an additional 40 kg of weight to the car, changes the weight distribution, raises the center of gravity, needs more cooling, and affects stability in braking. And then there is also the question of reliability.

“Reliability seems quite good and we are testing it quite often, not all the time, but on and off to understand the benefits that we will hopefully have,” Heidfeld stated on the Formula 1 website.

Read More About KERS

Source: AP

Auto Parts Suppliers – Bailout Needed

The ripple effect from the decline in GM, Ford and Chrysler has been spreading. Auto parts suppliers have seen their business cut significantly and many of these auto parts companies don’t think they will be able to stay afloat without help from Uncle Sam. Two major auto parts supplier groups will soon make a formal request for a loan from the government. They are expected to ask for $25 billion in order to stay in business. The Original Equipment Suppliers Association states that auto parts suppliers employ about 600,000 people in the U.S. A collapse of this industry would be a major blow to the already difficult U.S. economy.

Companies such as FormTech Industries employs 44o people in Royal Oak, Michigan. They make shafts, gears and other components from raw steel. FormTech’s parts end up in about ninety percent of GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles. Michael Ryan, President and CEO of FormTech, is almost out of cash and may soon be unable to purchase the raw materials the company uses to create their products.

Auto parts suppliers are normally paid 45 days after delivery of the products. This further adds to their current cash crunch.  The request for government assistance will include a $7 billion lump sum to be used specifically to help speed up the payments to suppliers.

All threats to the auto industry are also threats to motor sports. We have already seen racing teams such as Honda pull out of Formula 1 due to cost concerns. Formula 1 has started to significantly change regulations with cost cutting in mind knowing that auto manufacturers are hurting. Let’s hope the economy and auto industry turns around as soon as possible and this whole problem soon becomes a distant memory.

Source: The AP

Oil Pump and Wet / Dry Sump Systems – Racing Auto Parts

The majority of production cars use a wet sump oil system. In this system, the oil that lubricates the engine is stored underneath the crankshaft in the oil pan. The pan must be large enough to hold four to six quarts of oil. The oil pump sucks up oil from the bottom of the oil pan and then pumps it to the rest of the engine.

In a dry sump system, extra oil is stored in a tank outside the engine and a large oil pan isn’t necessary. A dry sump system uses at least two oil pumps. One pulls oil from the sump and sends it to the tank. The other pump takes oil from the tank and pushes it to lubricate the engine. The dry sump system allows for the minimum amount of oil possible to be in the engine.

Major racing series such as Formula One and Indy Car utilize the dry sump system. A dry sump system is designed to provide lubrication for the engine’s internal parts and also increase performance. A wet sump system is not practical for racing as lateral G-forces would pull the oil to one side, which would momentarily leave the engine without oil. Because the oil is stored in a separate tank, a large oil pan is not necessary. This allows for the engine to sit lower to the ground, which lowers the center of gravity.

Source: f1technical.net, auto.howstuffworks.com

Flywheel and KERS – Racing Auto Parts

In a traditional vehicle, the flywheel is the large wheel connected to the crankshaft that provides the momentum to keep the crankshaft turning while power is not being applied. The momentum is created by the energy generated during the power stroke. This energy is also used to drive the crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons during the three idle strokes of the 4-stroke cycle. This makes for a smooth engine speed. The flywheel forms one surface of the clutch and is the base for the ring gear.

Flywheel and KERS

The upcoming season of Formula 1 will allow teams to incorporate the new Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) system into their cars. This addition will essentially turn the cars into hybrids. KERS is not a battery electric hybrid technology that most people are familiar with. The recovered energy is stored in a rotating flywheel instead of being converted into electricity and then applied through an electric motor. The flywheel is approximately 5 kilograms and contained inside the car’s transmission. This stored energy in the flywheel can be used by pressing a boost button during certain times of the race.

Source: auto.indiamart.com, gas2.org

Camshaft – Racing Auto Parts

The camshaft is an engine component used in piston engines to open and close valves. It is a cylindrical rod that runs the length of the cylinder bank. The rod contains many cams or lobes, each which operate a valve. The lobes open the valves by pressing down on the valve as they spin.

The relationship between the rotation of the camshaft and the rotation of the crankshaft is extremely important. The valves control the flow of the air/fuel mixture intake and exhaust.  The valves must be opened and closed at the exact time during the stroke of the piston in order to operate properly. The camshaft is either connected to the crankshaft directly. It can also be connected by a gear mechanism or with a timing belt (also called a timing chain).

In Formula 1, FIA regulations mandate that camshafts must be manufactured from an iron based alloy and that each camshaft and lobe must be machined from one single piece. No welding between the front and rear bearing journals is permitted.

Source: wikipedia.org, formula1.com