Sauber exclusion from Australian GP

 

Sauber was excluded from Australian GP race results in breach of article 3.10.1 and 3.10.2 of the technical regulations because the the top surface of the uppermost rear wing element (in yellow) was found to be by 5mm shorter in radius ( red two head arrow)  than the minimum which is 100mm . Sauber may have claimed no performance gain but at the end  they decided not to appeal against FIA disqualification . However they confirmed that was indeed an error in the checking process resulting to deviation from the rules .

Article 3.10.1

Any bodywork more than 150mm behind the rear wheel centre line which is between 150mm and 730mm above the reference plane, and between 75mm and 355mm from the car centre line, must lie in an area when viewed from the side of the car that is situated between 150mm and 350mm behind the rear wheel centre line and between 300mm and 400mm above the reference plane. When viewed from the side of the car no longitudinal cross section may have more than one section in this area.

Furthermore, no part of this section in contact with the external air stream may have a local concave radius of curvature smaller than 100mm.

Once this section is defined, ‘gurney’ type trim tabs may be fitted to the trailing edge. When measured in any longitudinal cross section no dimension of any such trim tab may exceed 20mm.

Article 3.10.2

Other than the bodywork defined in Article 3.10.9, any bodywork behind a point lying 50mm forward of the rear wheel centre line which is more than 730mm above the reference plane, and less than 355mm from the car centre line, must lie in an area when viewed from the side of the car that is situated between the rear wheel centre line and a point 350mm behind it. With the exception of minimal parts solely associated with adjustment of the section in accordance with Article 3.18 :

– when viewed from the side of the car, no longitudinal cross section may have more than two sections in this area, each of which must be closed.

– no part of these longitudinal cross sections in contact with the external air stream may have a local concave radius of curvature smaller than 100mm.

Once the rearmost and uppermost section is defined, ‘gurney’ type trim tabs may be fitted to the trailing edge. When measured in any longitudinal cross section no dimension of any such trim tab may exceed 20mm. The chord of the rearmost and uppermost closed section must always be smaller than the chord of the lowermost section at the same lateral station. Furthermore, the distance between adjacent sections at any longitudinal plane must lie between 10mm

and 15mm at their closest position, except, in accordance with Article 3.18, when this distance must lie between 10mm and 50mm.

 

 

 

 

Sauber C30 – New rear wing before Melbourne

 

A new rear wing was tested before Melbourne in last pre season test . The new wing had differently shaped endplate gills and a new DCS ( Drag Control System ) which externally looks to be copied from Ferrari . Lastly  Sauber adopted an old solution to add downforce to the rear axle by adding a winglet over the rear light .