This is the most crucial set of objectives of a race vehicle, as the main goal is to outperform any other team’s design. Several metrics, such as acceleration capabilities in both directions (g-g diagram, which will be detailed in a subsequent article), peak speed, fuel, and tire usage, cooling needs, and so on, should be used to quantify performance targets.
Performance targets can also be established for particular systems rather than the entire vehicle. For example, aerodynamic goals may include a specified lift/drag ratio and the center of pressure (CP) placement. In contrast, suspension goals can consist of a specific roll sensitivity, weight transfer, suspension travel, steer and camber changes, and so on.
Handling
The racing car’s control capabilities should be sufficient to allow the driver to run it at the g-g diagram’s limitations. This comprises various control systems, such as steering and suspension, and other characteristics. There is a lot more study that might be done to improve the preliminary design.
Structure
This includes bending and torsional stiffness and local strengths needed to withstand maximum loads from braking, acceleration, side force, striking curbs, aerodynamic loads, engine torque reaction, and other factors. Finite element analysis is currently widely used at all motorsport levels to achieve these aims, particularly when rules requiring crash testing for chassis homologations are in place.
Safety and Accommodation for Drivers
The cockpit must offer ample space for the driver, comfortable seats and restraints, a pleasant temperature, and a good enough view of the track to allow the car to be controlled at performance limits. Furthermore, a responsive design should use the finest safety equipment available, such as fire suppression, rollover and crash protection, and so on.
Features that can be changed
Some automotive characteristics must be adjustable to give configuration choices for the vehicle, allowing it to be fitted to various circuits. Weight distributions via movable ballast and adjustable wheelbases, aerodynamic changes via wings (either different branches or different wing settings) and suspension adjustments (vehicle attitude and ride height), and suspension adjustments such as wheel loads (via springs and anti-roll bars), damping, static settings (toe and camber), geometry (variable swing arm length or roll center heights), and others are all examples of typical setup capabilities.
