Branched Racetrack Segments for Overtaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-end motorsport series, the turbulent air wake behind leading vehicles significantly reduces the aerodynamic efficiency of following vehicles, making overtaking maneuvers complex and often only possible at specific locations like the end of a long straight followed by a sharp turn.
Innovation Solution
A racetrack design featuring a racetrack portion with at least two segments that are mostly identical in terms of length and/or travel time, allowing a following pilot to choose an alternative segment without penalty, thereby enabling faster completion of the racetrack portion and facilitating overtaking opportunities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a following pilot attempts to overtake by getting close behind the leading vehicle, then the following pilot can use slipstream effect to gain speed advantage, but the turbulent air wake significantly reduces aerodynamic efficiency and downforce of the following vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The racetrack is divided into multiple segments including a first racing line and a second racing line that are mostly identical in length and travel time. This segmentation allows the following pilot to choose the second racing line as an alternative to the first, enabling overtaking maneuvers without significant penalty while avoiding the most severe turbulent wake zones.
2Reliability
If the following pilot takes a compromised racing line to avoid turbulent air, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but the speed advantage is reduced at the moment when it is most necessary for overtaking
Solution Approach 1:
The racetrack design provides dynamic routing options where the following pilot can adaptively choose between the first and second racing lines based on real-time conditions such as position relative to the leading vehicle, speed differential, and aerodynamic conditions. This dynamic approach allows optimization of both speed advantage and aerodynamic efficiency during the overtaking maneuver.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the racetrack provides alternative racing lines for overtaking, then overtaking opportunities increase, but the complexity of the track layout increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second racing lines are designed to be mostly identical in terms of length and travel time, creating homogeneous conditions for both routes. This homogeneity ensures that neither line has a significant advantage, allowing pilots to choose alternative lines for overtaking without suffering time penalties, while maintaining a relatively simple and intuitive track layout.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design increases the possibility for overtaking maneuvers while ensuring safety, as the identical segments allow a faster pilot to attempt an overtake without significant disadvantage, even when the speed difference is not extremely high.
Implementation Method 1
All the vehicles used for racing produce some level of aerodynamic disturbance behind them (vortices), as they travel through air at high speed. The turbulent (or disturbed) air behind the leading vehicle significantly reduces the aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle following.
Implementation Method 2
the more downforce the vehicles produce and the bigger the vehicle, the more air disturbance they generate behind them. The turbulent air reduces downforce.
Data Source
AI summary
A racetrack including a racetrack portion with at least a first segment and a second segment being branched-off from the racetrack portion and being merged into the racetrack. The at least two segments are mostly identical in terms of length and/or travel time is proposed.