Lotus 79: A True Pioneer in Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics in most high end performance oriented production cars are a given. A car's chassis is basically just as important, if not more important than the engine.

Of course there is really no way to definitively measure aerodynamics until you drive a particular car and feel just how much grip it gets at high speeds. Hence, engine specs and all other technological tidbits (ASM, TCS etc) are still used more often than not to entice a person to buy a car.

But even the best engine is meaningless if the car can't handle the power. And good handling is largely due to efficient aerodynamics that help keep a car stable on the road at high speeds.

The importance of aerodynamics is clearly seen in racing where many cars are more reliant on aerodynamic grip than mechanical grip. For the 2008 Formula 1 season for instance, the Scuderia Toro Rosso driven by four-times Champ Car Champion Sebastien Bordais and respected up and comer Sebastian Vettel utilizes a Ferrari engine. But those two aren't competing anywhere near the top. Instead, it is the Scuderia Ferrari F2008 that's dominating the current season. This is because the F2008 has a much better chassis with much better aerodynamics.

The definitive car that advanced aerodynamic technology would be the Lotus 79 designed by Martin Ogilvie, Tony Rudd, Peter Wright and, of course, Colin Chapman. And it spelled 'domination' for the 1978 Formula 1 season.

The Lotus 79 was coined as the "Wing Car". It's design basically generated a low pressure area underneath the car as it travelled. This meant that as air flowed, the car would be 'sucked' to the ground: hence ground effect.

In a sense, the Lotus 79 chassis was like an inverted wing. An aircraft wing would produce low-pressure above the wing to produce lift while the Lotus 79 did the exact opposite.

Although many open wheel racing cars as early as the 60s were already experimenting with wings fitted at the front and the rear to produce downforce, none of those cars used aerodynamic grip as efficiently as the Lotus 79. It was truly an aerodynamic car against old fashioned cars.

All of a sudden, the revolutionary Flat 12 engine of the Ferrari 312/T3 (designed to enhance handling due to a lower center of gravity) was helpless against the tremendous aerodynamic benefits of the "Wing Car"

Lotus stormed through the season winning the constructors' title with lead driver Mario Andretti winning the drivers' title. Teammate Ronnie Peterson, despite his tragic death after the Italian GP, remained in second place in the overall standings.

Although the ground effect design is now banned in Formula 1 and that current generation Formula 1 cars find different methods to produce downforce, there is no denying that the Lotus 79 was truly the first car in F1 to show the importance of aerodynamic grip.

And beyond Formula 1, aerodynamics is still one of the main staples in motor racing that is required for victory.