There is an optimum strategy for Formula One racing team time trials, which is not only depended on engine efficiency but also on the body geometry, vehicle sequence and the resulting aerodynamic drag. In race track, trailing car always tries to stay at the slipstream (low pressure area) created by the leading car (also called slipstreaming or drafting). If a car follows the leading car moving at the same speed than the rear car will require less power to maintain its speed. This strategy later helps in overtaking in the pit lane or famously called undercutting. This paper reviews the result of CFD simulations of two drafting Formula one racing cars. Here for a succinct study two cars are considered, the leading and the trailing car. CAD models for the same were created with the separation distances of d = 0.25m, 0.5m, 1m, 3m, and 5m. CFD simulation is done in ANSYS Fluent software with the standard k–ε model for closure. The main purpose of this study is to explain the aerodynamic drag effects by means of the detailed pressure distribution on and around the cars and shown how both the drafting cars significantly influence the pressure distribution on each other’s body and the static pressure in the region between them, which governs the drag reduction experienced by car.
2. Literature
There is an optimum strategy for Formula One racing team time trials,
which is not only depended on engine efficiency but also on the body
geometry, vehicle sequence and the resulting aerodynamic drag
3.
4. Advantage of Slipstreaming or Drafting
If a car follows the leading car moving at the same speed than the rear
car will require less power to maintain its speed. This strategy later
helps in overtaking in the pit lane or famously called undercutting
