Lotus Renault R31 – rear floor details, cutting drag

 

R31 proved to be quite fast during winter testing , a fact not only credited to the front exhausts exit but also to the highly detailed design of the car .  In particular the crucial area  in front of the rear wheel  is very advanced featuring a triangular vertical fence (orange arrow) and a pointing outwards trapezoid channel  (orange line) to significantly cut drag . Williams FW33 has also an analogous trapezoid channel for the same reason .

 

 

From a side view the plank under the floor can be spotted (No 2) alongside with the diffuser side vertical fence (No 1)