Twin Keel

[GTV27]

Is there a layman's explanation as to what this is and how is beneficial/detrimental to aero and or chassis grip?

[Lee Janotta]

Well, the single keel obstructs airflow over the wing and to the undertray. If you move the suspension mounting points outboard, you open up that whole area under the nose to airflow. Maintaining good suspension geometry and rigidity while moving the lower control arm mounting points outward like that is the trick. I think. Layman's explanation.

I haven't looked at the Jag closely, are they doing anything with that concept they developed at the end of last season?

[GTV27]

Thanks Lee - do you mean to "open-up" the area directly under the nose and immediately behind the front wing (ie between the keels)?

Those "keels" must be rather exotic material to avoid bending.

[shiny side up!]

Yeah, designing/buliding them to not bend is the trick...

I remember seeing photos of a couple of cars (McLaren and Hordan??--could be wrong on the Jordan bit...) when they frist tried to copy sauber's twin keel in 2002 (I think '02...), and they had stiffening bars in between the 2 keels because they were flexing (kinda defeats the purpose!).

[avsfan733]

ya thats the problem but now teams are starting to use zylon fabric as opposed to the more common carbon fibre that we know of. Zylon is about 15% or more less dense but significantly significanlty stronger