FR 3.5: the effects of the new aero kit

The Dallara T08 replaced the T05 grid for the 2008 season. Equipped with accessories inspired by technique F1 at the moment, like certain structural safety elements, they were also equipped with aerodynamic appendages having the gift of providing them with more aerodynamic downforce, but a little less top speed in return.
This is one of the reasons that pushed the staff to Renault Technologies to review its copy and put into service a new aero kit for 2009. As Emmanuel Esnault, the circuit technical manager of the World Series by Renault, explained to us, the primary motivation for these alterations is first and foremost part of the philosophy of reducing costs, an absolute priority for the period.

This is how the new kit is overall reduced by a certain number of parts, the treatment representing a saving of €12. It's easy to imagine the savings during certain track excursions or collisions. With also 000 kg gained, the empty weight now stands at 7 kg, the driver's racing weight on board at 628 kg.

Alvaro Parente, the 2007 series champion, took the wheel during the development of the new configuration at the Dijon-Prenois circuit. In terms of performance, it is the aerodynamic drag that has been proportionally reduced more than the load. This could make overtaking a little easier, which was not the best asset of the T08 compared to the T05. The latest collective tests in Barcelona showed a gain of 10 km/h in top speed.

The opinion of Bertrand Baguette, the Verviétois starting a third season, the second in a row within Draco International Racing whose single-seaters sport the beautiful colors of Force India F1: “The behavior of the car with the new kit is much more nervous. Last year's was much busier, and therefore much more stable. Now that we have lost load, especially on the front axle, this makes fast curves and braking more difficult. »

Let's bet that this new set will improve the quality of driving?