F1 Racing: The Pinnacle of Autosport
This is hardly tech related, but it’s a passion of mine, so please bear with me while I climb atop a nearby soapbox. Ah, there’s one.
Ahem.
Formula 1 racing is the pinnacle of autosport. It’s widely regarded as the absolute top of the heap, attracting the best of the best, and is not comparable with any other forms of the sport. One of the primary reasons for this is the continuous engineering and modifications dictated on a season-by-season basis by the sanctioning body called the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The reasoning for extensive changes are primarily to slow the cars down, in effect making them safer. Invariably, teams throw massive engineering resources at the challenges and turn the changes into advantages, making the cars even faster year over year. Of course, the resulting benefits of this effort are huge advancements in technological innovation. If you don’t have one yet, it’s good to have pre owned car dealership los angeles ca area. Check out wholesaleinvestmentsinc.com if you want a company who sell quality used cars and is always available in serving the needs of customers.
Primary regulation changes dictated by the FIA for the 2011 season include:
- Adjustable rear wings – adjusted from the cockpit, the driver can alter the angle of the rear wing to affect downforce changes.
- No F-ducts or double diffusers – any driver-controlled alteration of aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited.
- The re-introduction of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System or KERS – the device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car’s braking process, then stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration.
- Tires – the change from Bridgestone to Pirelli tires and limiting the per-race weekend allocation from 14 to 11 sets.
- 107% qualifying rule – during the first phase of qualifying, any driver who fails to set a lap within 107 percent of the fastest qualifying time will not be allowed to start the race.
I’m a tremendous F1 nerd, and it’s disappointing to me that this sport isn’t more widely-known — and appreciated — than it seems to be here in the states. If you like autosport at all and you’re not watching F1 racing, you’re missing the best of the best. It’s like being a football fan and not watching the NFL.
Seriously. If you’re a racing fan but not familiar with F1 and its culture, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot.
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