A1 Grand Prix cars
Encyclopedia
The A1 Grand Prix car was a vehicle designed to compete in the A1 Grand Prix
. The car was standardised for every team to provide a level playing field for competing nations. It was designed to reduce the volume of "dirty air", allowing drivers to close in on the car in front, encouraging overtaking
. The bodywork
was mainly pre-impregnated carbon fibre composites. These pre-impregnated (pre-preg) composites provide better consistency and higher quality than hand-laid composites, providing greater strength, epoxy resin uniformity, and no weak spots. The application of "pre-preg" also means that a very specific amount of resin
can be used, reducing weight. From 2008–09 Ferrari
was consulted on the design and manufacture for all A1 Grand Prix cars.
tyres. The former chassis is now used in the Euroseries 3000, starting in 2009
.
honeycomb. Based on bionic engineering principles found in nature, the hexagonal honeycomb provides remarkable strength for its weight, and has progressive deformation properties in response to an impact, which contributes to driver safety. In addition, drivers are protected by FIA-approved side intrusion panels that protect them from lateral impacts.
is of a double wishbone and pushrod operated twin coil over damper
construction. Adjustable ride height
, cambers and toe, as well as anti-dive and anti-squat made to optimise drive control.
—peak loads at full throttle could literally shred a lesser clutch. The two-piece carbon clutch can take the load, even when the driver changes up with the PowerBoost activated. In hot and cold testing the clutch proved faultless.
.
On July 22, 2008, new information regarding the new "Powered by Ferrari" A1GP car was revealed.
Ferrari F2004
chassis. It is made from carbon-fibre skins with an aluminium honeycomb core, and has been tested to meet all FIA
crash safety standards.
. It is a 4.5-litre Ferrari/Maserati
V8 engine capable of delivering 600 bhp in PowerBoost mode. The new engine weighs 160 kg, 40 kg more than the previously-used Zytek
engines.
The PowerBoost is driver-activated by a button mounted on the steering wheel. The driver can use it for a brief period and for a set number of times during the Sprint (4 times) and Feature races (8 times), and may use it for the entirety of a single lap during Qualifying.
is the exclusive tyre supplier for the next three seasons beginning with the 2008–09 season. Wheels are supplied by OZ Racing
.
The designs stem from Formula One technologies that seek to offer both optimal performance and safety to the driver. Full rubber serration tests were performed on various tracks such as Fiorano
, Imola
, Jerez
and Mugello
resulting in an optimal compromise between grip, endurance and wear.
A1 Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix was a 'single make' open-wheel auto racing series. It was unique in its field in that competitors solely represented their nation as opposed to themselves or a team, the usual format in most formula racing series. As such, it was often promoted as the "World Cup of Motorsport"...
. The car was standardised for every team to provide a level playing field for competing nations. It was designed to reduce the volume of "dirty air", allowing drivers to close in on the car in front, encouraging overtaking
Overtaking
Overtaking or passing is the act of one vehicle going past another slower moving vehicle, travelling in the same direction, on a road. The lane used for overtaking another vehicle is almost always a lane further from the road shoulder — that is, to the left in places that drive on the right,...
. The bodywork
Coachwork
Coachwork is the body of a horse-drawn coach or carriage, a motor vehicle , a railroad car or railway carriage. Usually reserved for bodies built on a separate chassis, rather than being of unitary or monocoque construction...
was mainly pre-impregnated carbon fibre composites. These pre-impregnated (pre-preg) composites provide better consistency and higher quality than hand-laid composites, providing greater strength, epoxy resin uniformity, and no weak spots. The application of "pre-preg" also means that a very specific amount of resin
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
can be used, reducing weight. From 2008–09 Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
was consulted on the design and manufacture for all A1 Grand Prix cars.
Lola-Zytek car (2005–06 to 2007–08)
The Lola B05/52 was the spec car used the by the series from the 2005–06 season to the 2007–08 season. It was powered by Zytek engines, and ran on CooperCooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a United States based company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of replacementautomobiles and truck tires, and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires...
tyres. The former chassis is now used in the Euroseries 3000, starting in 2009
2009 Euroseries 3000 season
The 2009 Euroseries 3000 season began on May 16 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal and finished at Monza in Italy on October 18 after 14 races....
.
Chassis
The chassis, designated Lola A1GP, is made and designed by Lola Cars. The A1 Car's carbon fibre skin cloaks a core of aluminiumAluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
honeycomb. Based on bionic engineering principles found in nature, the hexagonal honeycomb provides remarkable strength for its weight, and has progressive deformation properties in response to an impact, which contributes to driver safety. In addition, drivers are protected by FIA-approved side intrusion panels that protect them from lateral impacts.
Engine
The engine for the cars was developed by Zytek Engineering. The 3.4-litre V8 unit is capable of delivering 520 bhp (550 bhp in powerboost mode). Each engine must be very durable, as it must last a whole season. The engine only weighs 120 kilograms, making it one of the lightest 3.4-litre engines ever made.Technical specifications
The car has an overall length of 4833 mm, with a long wheelbase of 3000 mm and a wide track of 1476 mm (front) and 1468 mm(rear). Its total weight amounts to 695 kilograms, without the driver and the fuel.- Engine type: ZA1348
- Configuration: 90 degree V8
- DisplacementEngine displacementEngine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
: 3400 cc - Width: 619 mm
- HeightHeightHeight is the measurement of vertical distance, but has two meanings in common use. It can either indicate how "tall" something is, or how "high up" it is. For example "The height of the building is 50 m" or "The height of the airplane is 10,000 m"...
: 542 mm - LengthLengthIn geometric measurements, length most commonly refers to the longest dimension of an object.In certain contexts, the term "length" is reserved for a certain dimension of an object along which the length is measured. For example it is possible to cut a length of a wire which is shorter than wire...
: 543 mm - WeightWeightIn science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force on the object due to gravity. Its magnitude , often denoted by an italic letter W, is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g; thus:...
: 120 kg - Cylinder blockCylinder blockA cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures...
: Sand cast aluminium alloy - Cylinder headCylinder headIn an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
: Sand cast aluminium alloy - ValvetrainValvetrainValvetrain is an all-encompassing term used to describe the mechanisms and parts which control the operation of the valves. A traditional reciprocating internal combustion engine uses valves to control air and fuel flow into and out of the cylinders, facilitating combustion.-Layout:Valvetrain: The...
: 4 overhead camshafts 4 valves per Cylinder - Engine Management: Zytek EMS 4.6.1
- Ignition: Zytek DCDI with coil over plug
- Spark plugSpark plugA spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
s: NGKNGKis a Public Company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. NGK is involved in the manufacture and sale of spark plugs and related products for internal-combustion engines and new ceramics and applicable products.-Organization:... - Fuel: 100 octane ratingOctane ratingOctane rating or octane number is a standard measure of the anti-knock properties of a motor or aviation fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating...
biofuelBiofuelBiofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases... - Max TorqueTorqueTorque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
: 330 lbf·ft (442 N·m) - Max power: 520 bhp (388 kW)
Suspension
The front and rear suspensionSuspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
is of a double wishbone and pushrod operated twin coil over damper
Shock absorber
A shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy. It is a type of dashpot.-Nomenclature:...
construction. Adjustable ride height
Ride height
Ride height is the amount of space between the base of an automobile tire and the underside of the chassis; or, more properly, to the shortest distance between a flat, level surface, and any part of a vehicle other than those parts designed to contact the ground...
, cambers and toe, as well as anti-dive and anti-squat made to optimise drive control.
Clutch
A two-piece carbon clutch was tailored especially for the car to handle the exceptional torque of a racing engine with up to 550 bhp and the two racing starts per weekend. The unit combines lightweight construction with durability and bullet-proof reliability. The A1 car's gearchange is by electronically automated shifting of a six-speed paddle shift transmissionTransmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
—peak loads at full throttle could literally shred a lesser clutch. The two-piece carbon clutch can take the load, even when the driver changes up with the PowerBoost activated. In hot and cold testing the clutch proved faultless.
PowerBoost
The PowerBoost button on the A1 car allows the engine to reach its maximum of 550 bhp. When used at the right time, this feature can encourage overtaking. For the PowerBoost to activate, the throttle position must be above 80% and the speed more than 60 km/h. The button must also be depressed to continue on PowerBoost mode. However, the PowerBoost automatically deactivates itself if the throttle falls below 40%. Each driver only has a limited number of uses of the PowerBoost function. The driver can only use it four times in a sprint race and eight times in a feature race. Once these maximum allocated uses of the PowerBoost have been used, the system is disabled until the end of the race, after which Zytek engineers reset the system for the next race.Tyres
A1 Grand Prix uses slick tyres on normal dry races. Pneumatics were supplied exclusively by Cooper TiresCooper Tire & Rubber Company
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is a United States based company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of replacementautomobiles and truck tires, and subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires...
.
"Powered by Ferrari" car (2008–09)
Chassis
The chassis is based on the Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Ferrari F2004
Ferrari F2004
The Ferrari F2004 is a championship-winning Formula One racecar, designed by Rory Byrne, Ross Brawn and Aldo Costa for the 2004 Formula One season...
chassis. It is made from carbon-fibre skins with an aluminium honeycomb core, and has been tested to meet all FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
crash safety standards.
Engine
The engine is built by FerrariFerrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
. It is a 4.5-litre Ferrari/Maserati
Ferrari/Maserati engine
-Shared specifications:The Ferrari/Maserati architecture displaces between 4.2 L and 6.3 L, producing between and in street-legal configuration, and up to in track configuration...
V8 engine capable of delivering 600 bhp in PowerBoost mode. The new engine weighs 160 kg, 40 kg more than the previously-used Zytek
Zytek
Zytek Group Ltd is an automotive and motorsport company founded in 1981 and based in Fradley and Repton, United Kingdom. Zytek Group has two main division: Zytek Automotive, which is based at Fradley, Staffordshire; and Zytek Engineering, which is based at Repton, Derbyshire.-Zytek Automotive:Zytek...
engines.
- Configuration: 90 degree V8
- DisplacementEngine displacementEngine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
: 4500 cc - Width: 666.5 mm
- HeightHeightHeight is the measurement of vertical distance, but has two meanings in common use. It can either indicate how "tall" something is, or how "high up" it is. For example "The height of the building is 50 m" or "The height of the airplane is 10,000 m"...
: 446 mm - LengthLengthIn geometric measurements, length most commonly refers to the longest dimension of an object.In certain contexts, the term "length" is reserved for a certain dimension of an object along which the length is measured. For example it is possible to cut a length of a wire which is shorter than wire...
: 569 mm - WeightWeightIn science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force on the object due to gravity. Its magnitude , often denoted by an italic letter W, is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g; thus:...
: 160 kg - Cylinder blockCylinder blockA cylinder block is an integrated structure comprising the cylinder of a reciprocating engine and often some or all of their associated surrounding structures...
: Die cast aluminium alloy - Cylinder headCylinder headIn an internal combustion engine, the cylinder head sits above the cylinders on top of the cylinder block. It closes in the top of the cylinder, forming the combustion chamber. This joint is sealed by a head gasket...
: Sand cast aluminium alloy - ValvetrainValvetrainValvetrain is an all-encompassing term used to describe the mechanisms and parts which control the operation of the valves. A traditional reciprocating internal combustion engine uses valves to control air and fuel flow into and out of the cylinders, facilitating combustion.-Layout:Valvetrain: The...
: 4 overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder - Engine Management: BoschRobert Bosch GmbHRobert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
MED 9.6 - Injection: Gasoline direct injection
- Spark plugSpark plugA spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
s: NGKNGKis a Public Company established in 1936 and based in Nagoya, Japan. NGK is involved in the manufacture and sale of spark plugs and related products for internal-combustion engines and new ceramics and applicable products.-Organization:... - Fuel: Shell E10 102 RON
- Max TorqueTorqueTorque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
: 406 ft·lbf (550 N·m) - Max power: 600 bhp (448 kW)
PowerBoost
Each car is equipped with a unique PowerBoost system, a mechanism to provide short bursts of increased power to create additional overtaking opportunities and action throughout the race. By changing the engine’s parameters, the system can give the driver additional power over a limited time during each race to take the car from the base 540 bhp to its maximum power of 600 bhp.The PowerBoost is driver-activated by a button mounted on the steering wheel. The driver can use it for a brief period and for a set number of times during the Sprint (4 times) and Feature races (8 times), and may use it for the entirety of a single lap during Qualifying.
Wheels and tyres
MichelinMichelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
is the exclusive tyre supplier for the next three seasons beginning with the 2008–09 season. Wheels are supplied by OZ Racing
OZ Group
OZ Group is an Italian company founded in 1971 that produces car and motorcycle wheels, specifically alloy wheels. They are an OEM supplier to a number of manufacturers in addition to aftermarket sales and are a prominent wheel supplier in motorsport.-History:...
.
The designs stem from Formula One technologies that seek to offer both optimal performance and safety to the driver. Full rubber serration tests were performed on various tracks such as Fiorano
Fiorano Circuit
The Fiorano Circuit is a private racetrack owned by Ferrari for development and testing purposes. It is located near the Italian town of Maranello....
, Imola
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, east of Bologna and east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello....
, Jerez
Circuito Permanente de Jerez
Circuito de Jerez , formerly known as Circuito Permanente de Jerez, is a 4,428 m racing circuit located close to the city of Jerez de la Frontera, deep within the sherry-producing south of Spain...
and Mugello
Mugello Circuit
Mugello Circuit is a race track in the Mugello region of Italy near Florence. Its length is . It has 15 turns and a long straight.Grand Prix motorcycle racing host an annual event here . Also, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters hold an annual event. The track is property of Scuderia Ferrari which...
resulting in an optimal compromise between grip, endurance and wear.
Technical specifications
- Weight: Approx 700 kg including driver, race ready (excluding fuel)
- Front and rear suspension: Double wishbone with pushrod operated coil over damper units. Adjustable ride height, cambers and toe, adjustable anti-dive and anti-squat to optimise drive control
- Anti-roll bar: Multi adjustable, quick change front and rear roll bars
- Chassis: Carbon fibre skins, aluminium honeycomb core. Tested to meet all applicable FIA crash safety standards
- Bodywork: Light weight composite bodywork
- Gearbox: Six-speed longitudinal sequential. Gear selection via a Magneti Marelli paddle shift system
- Drive line: Tripod jointed driveshafts
- Brakes: Brembo carbon discs, six-pot aluminium calipers
- Dampers: Penske VBP-45, two-way adjustable
- Wheels: Front 13” dia. X 12” Rear 13” dia. X 14”
- Steering: Titan angle drive bevel and two-pinion ratio’s
- Steering wheel: 280 mm diameter carbon, with mounted LCD dash
- Instrumentation and display: Magneti Marelli mounted display unit; Multi-channel logging facility for engineering analysis
- Seat belt: FIA approved SABELT six-point safety harness
- Fuel cell: ATL fuel cell approximately 150-litres capacity and designed to take up to 50 per cent ethanol
- Clutch: AP three-plate carbon/carbon with steel hub
- Tyres: Michelin control slick and treaded wet tyres