Auto Racing - Formula One Racing

Auto Racing | Formula One Racing | Technical Details of Formula One Racing Cars | Auto racing clothing

Auto Racing

Auto racing is a test of endurance for the vehicle and the driver. Cutting edge technology combined with exceptional skill in driving, backed up with an all-encompassing team spirit is probably the reason behind most of the successes in auto racing. Auto racing is a demanding, yet exhilarating sport. Specially designed automobiles are raced over tracks or courses of various lengths, designs and construction.

There are three kinds of race courses in auto racing:

The oval track
The road course
The straight line course

An auto racing team is made of five core elements:

The ownership
The team manager
The driver
The support crew
The sponsors

Drivers compete for different owners in different cars throughout their careers. Brief service breaks during auto racing are called pit stops. The driver works with the support crew to handle repairs, tire changes and fuel refills at the pit stops. The sponsors’ logos are seen outside of the vehicles during auto racing. The primary auto racing series in most parts of the world are for Formula One cars and sports cars. In the United States, it is those for Indianapolis cars and stock cars. The FIA (Fédération International de l'Automobile) is the worldwide governing body of auto racing.

From motorized versions of horse-drawn carriages and wagons to modern day cars, auto racing has come a long way. Racing cars are of two types:

Open wheeled vehicles: These are vehicles where the wheels are not enclosed beneath fenders and have open cockpits. These could be modest karts or sophisticated Formula One or Indy cars.
Closed wheeled vehicles: These vehicles have an enclosed cockpit and resemble street cars. These are sometimes called stock cars.

Formula One Racing

Formula racing (single-seat auto racing) is organized and regulated by the FIA (Fédération International de l'Automobile). The FIA also regulates slower and less advanced single-seat cars competing in such categories as Formula Two (F2), Formula Three (F3), and Formula 3000 (F3000).

Formula One racing comprises two World Championship titles, one for the drivers and one for the constructors. The Formula One racing calendar keeps racing fans updated with the schedules. All the participants (FIA, ASNs, organizers, competitors and circuits) must observe the rules governing the championship and hold FIA Super Licenses.

For zealous Formula One racing fans, here is some information on some of the teams and their popular drivers who sweat it out in Formula One racing championships.

S.No	TEAM	DRIVERS
1	Ferrari	Michael Schumacher
2	Williams-BMW	Ralf Schumacher
3	McLaren	Kimi Raikkonen
4	Renault	Jarno Trulli
5	Sauber	Nick Heidfeld
6	Jordan	Giancarlo Fisichella
7	British American Racing (BAR)	Jacques Villeneuve
8	Minardi	Justin Wilson
9	Toyota	Olivier Panis

Ayrton Senna, the legendary Brazilian champion, was one of the greatest drivers and his record of 65 pole positions was unchallenged more than six years after his death in 1994. He exhibited a lot of interest in the inner workings of his machinery and was able to relate to the engineers' precise technical feedback. Michael Schumacher, the German ace, is now the undisputed champion of Formula One racing closely followed by Kimi Raikkonen, while in the 2003 season, Ferrari and Williams lead the constructors' championship.

Technical Details of Formula One Racing Cars

The Car

Formula One cars are the most technologically advanced in auto racing. A leading edge Formula One racing car combines the best features of a jet fighter and a common road car. Aerodynamics is the key to the success of Formula One racing and millions of dollars are spent every year on research and development in the field. The aerodynamics is based on two concerns: creating downforce, to help push the car's tires onto the track and improve the cornering forces; and minimizing the drag that is caused by turbulence and slows the car down. All Formula One racing cars on the grid use carbon fiber composite brake discs. They save weight and are able to operate at higher temperatures than steel discs.

An extremely strong 'monocoque' structure is at the heart of the Formula One racing car. The structure performs a dual role - as a structural component and a safety device. Also called the 'tub', it includes the cockpit and the driver's 'survival cell' and forms the principal part of the car's chassis, with the engine and front suspension mounted directly to it. Most of the monocoque is constructed from carbon fiber. Cornering makes the difference between winning and losing Formula One racing. The gearboxes of modern Formula One racing cars are highly automated. Drivers select gears via paddles fitted behind the steering wheel. Most of the grids are now running seven-speed units.

A modern Formula One racing engine consumes an astounding 650 liters of air per second, and race fuel consumption is typically about 75-l/100 km (4 mpg). Thus the accelerative force on the pistons is nearly 9000 times gravity. So engine failure remains one of the most common causes of retirement in races. During a typical season, a Formula One racing team uses over 200,000 liters of fuel for testing and racing. These could be 50 slightly different blends, tuned for the demands of different circuits or even different weather conditions. Each fuel blend must be submitted to the governing body, the FIA, for prior approval of its composition and physical properties.

HANS, the Head and Neck Support system is an innovative safety device that became mandatory in Formula One racing in 2003. The HANS reduces the risk of skull and neck fractures, which is a major cause of death in racing accidents. Tires are a racecar's biggest performance variable. A Formula One racing tire is designed to last for at most 200 kilometers and is made as light and strong as possible. In Formula One racing, the tires may have to withstand forces of up to a ton of downforce, 4g lateral loadings and 5g longitudinal loadings. The tires are made from very soft rubber compounds and work best at relatively high temperatures.

Auto racing clothing

Modern overalls, gloves and boots are made from special fireproof materials. The overalls feature multi-layer construction from a special form of Aramid plastic fabric and is made as light as possible. The patches carrying corporate and sponsors' logos and the thread used to sew the overalls are also made from the same material. The fireproof gloves are also made as thin as possible. The soles of the driver's racing boots are much thinner than those of ordinary shoes.

It is not the individual efforts of the driver alone that results in a win at the end of the race, although indisputably it is the major factor. Facts like how the team manages pits, equipment failures, blown engines, broken transmission gears and break failures have to be considered. Some other factors like how the driver adapts to changing tracks and weather conditions also determine the winner. The team must keep up with cutting-edge technology to emerge a winner, because technology changes rapidly in auto racing.

Champion of Formula One racing Michael Schumacher.