Most people who are in the market for a new car do not expect to operate it at racing speeds or deftly maneuver around hairpin turns, but modern cars now have technology that has evolved from racecars. Formula 1 champions owe their titles not only to their skill, but also to their cars’ engineering. The technology used in racecar manufacturing has been adopted by many consumer car brands to make their models more advanced and competitive in the marketplace. Here’s a list of innovations that have stemmed from racing and made it to our road cars.
Disc brakes
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Disc brakes are considered to be superior to drum brakes, although drum brakes were the primary type of brake used in the early 1900s. In 1953, however, Jaguar entered three C-Type racing cars with disc brakes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Grand Prix. The British won the race with one of the C-Types, while one of the other C-Types with disc brakes came in second. Although some cars with disc brakes were made available to the public after that, these brakes weren’t mass produced until the Citroën DS was introduced in 1955. Sports cars, which demand better brake operation, widely adopted disc brakes soon after that, and so most vehicles sold today utilize disc brakes. .
Carbon fiber
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Carbon fiber is extremely strong compared to its relatively low weight. As high-performance racecars need to be fast, durable and as compact as possible, carbon fiber serves as a great material for them. Although Formula 1 racecars were initially made of metal, racecar manufacturers turned to carbon fiber in the 1980s, which made racecars stronger and safer while maintaining their agility. Since carbon fiber requires expertise to work with, it was not used in consumer vehicle manufacturing until recently. However, mainstream automakers are now using the material to create sleeker and lighter frames with more interior room for passengers.
Push-button ignition
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Instead of using a key to start their car, racing automobiles have a push-button ignition on the left side of the steering wheel for racecar drivers to avoid losing valuable time. That makes it easy for drivers to start the car as they shift into gear. Many new automobiles also have this feature, although the design varies. The BMW has a slot into which the driver must insert the key before pressing the button to turn the car on. Many Hondas offer the Smart Entry system, which unlocks the doors automatically when someone holding the remote approaches the vehicle. As long as the key fob is near the vehicle, the car will start at the push of the button, and the driver never has to touch the key.
Paddle shifters
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Racing professionals don’t have time to struggle with a clunky manual transmission. The semi-automatic paddle shifter, which was introduced in Ferrari racing automobiles in 1989, gave drivers better control by letting them maneuver paddles behind the steering wheel to change gears. As this technology improved, the shift delay decreased, providing more precise and faster shifting. Since 1995, all Formula 1 racecars have employed paddle shifters, as well as many road-class models, including Ferraris, some BMW’s, and some Porsches.
Dual overhead camshafts
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Inside a car’s engine, the camshafts open the valves that allow for air exchange within the engine. Dual overhead camshafts, or DOHC’s, allow the engine to pump more air through the cylinders, providing more power at higher speeds. In 1912, Georges Boillot won the French Grand Prix while driving the first car with a DOHC engine. This is now the most common engine design used in modern production of cars.
Kinetic energy recovery system
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A kinetic energy recovery system, or KERS, helps the car save up energy while you’re braking, storing it to help the car accelerate later with the push of a button. While many energy-saving systems now focus on efficiency, this one also focuses on speed. The KERS was initially tested out in Formula 1 cars in 2008. Many automakers are developing KERS to improve fuel efficiency and performance. The McLaren P1 contains the technology, and the Porsche 918 RSR concept car was one of the first to use a KERS.
Anti-lock brake system
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Anti-lock brake systems automatically apply and release pressure while the driver presses on the brake pedal, improving vehicle control. Anti-lock brake systems also decrease braking distance in many cases. These systems had only been used on airplanes until the Ferguson P99 racecar was produced with a fully mechanical anti-lock brake system in 1961. Anti-lock brake systems have been required in the United States since 2011, because they allow drivers to focus on steering while breaking abruptly in an emergency.
Rearview mirrors
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During the first Indianapolis 500, Ray Harroun added a rearview mirror to his racecar so that he could keep track of the cars behind him, eliminating the need for a mechanic to ride with him to monitor the other racers. He had seen a similar mirror on a horse-drawn carriage and thought it could help him reduce the weight in his racecar. Some road drivers in the early 1900s would hold a small mirror up periodically to check for traffic behind them. Carmakers introduced the rearview mirror to production vehicles in 1914 and it has been a staple ever since.
Aerodynamics
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Scientist Wunibald Kamm discovered that a high, flat roof and an angular rear end allowed cars to cut through the air better than any other design. This aerodynamic shape, called the Kammback, became notorious in the Ferrari 250 GT Drogo, which was appropriately referred to as the “bread van,” due to its rectangular tail shape. Modern cars have refined the shape. Hybrid cars share the most parallels with this design innovation, since they are created for maximum efficiency. Rear spoilers and wings also got their start when racecar engineers tried to find ways of balancing drag and traction to create an aerodynamic car with meticulous performance.
Suspension
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The suspension in production cars evolved almost directly from racecars. Cars perform better when all the tires are in contact with the ground, so they have to be able to move independently of the other wheels as you drive over bumps, potholes, and other uneven surfaces. Two kinds of independent suspensions that were developed for racecars are the multi-link suspension, which started in Formula 1 cars and is ideal for off-road driving, and MacPherson struts, which originated from NASCAR vehicles.
Conclusion
Can you imagine driving without some of these technologies? Formula 1 isn’t just a sport; it’s a way for automobile makers to develop the best technology for the most intense conditions. As these developments are implemented in cars that are available to any consumer, they make cars safer, more durable, faster and more efficient.
What technologies would you like to see come out in road cars in the future?