by Sam_goUUUdogs » Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:50 am
Clipsal is the best event, but Bathurst is still the big race of the yar without a doubt, the atmosphere and support catogories @ Clipsal are 100X better than any other event on the calander.
and here are the main changes of Project BluePrint.
- Holden's old Chev 5.0L engine was done away with, due to some component of the fuel intake system being inferior to the Ford engine's design. Basically, this would have already given the HMS engines more horsepower than the old Chev engines.
- Holden also gave up the McPherson Strut front suspension. Once again, in theory, this should eventually benefit Holden, as the Double Wishbone suspension is technically superior.
- Same rear wing for both cars ( Both cars already had the Holden undertray from the middle of 2002). This was tested in a wind tunnel.
- Seating position was made the same for both cars.
- Aero (drag) testing was apparently done at Avalon airport.
- The wings (and their position, I believe) were wind tunnel tested.
All in all, this could have potentially benefited Holden. But here are where the problems lie:
- Holden had to "map" a totally new engine, and learn how to get all that "new" horsepower out of it. Basically, engines are more "torquey" at certain RPM combined with certain amounts of fuel input. For example, if your engine hasn't been tuned and/or mapped properly, the engine might be sluggish in low revs (so you need to give it more accelerator), and then the car suddenly break into wheelspin as you pick up the revs (and the problem is multiplied by the extra fuel you're squirting into the engine). It's a similar problem on brakes, because if the amount of engine braking power being supplied is not smooth during your braking approach, it's easy to lock a wheel, or turn the car around (like Skaife has done so many times recently).
In short, Holden are only just starting to get on top of the new engine's setup and mapping. Ford, on the other hand, have been using the same engine for the past eight years or so, so they already have it sorted a lot better.
- The loss of the McPherson Strut has complicated things further, as the strut setup had it's advantages, apparently suited to tight corners (where, of course, most overtaking is done). Holden had this suspension pretty well sorted. Now, however, they've had to go back to the drawing board when it comes to setting up their suspension for each track, as their cars now react totally differently to corners, and the only way to do a fast lap is to set their cars up similar to the way Ford had done so for the past four years or so.
- That said, the change in wing position probably unsettled both manufacturers initially.
Basically, Holden is playing catch-up, but HRT have already show that they're getting there. Larry Perkins Motorsport, on the other hand, are further behind the eight-ball, as they waited as long as possible to start producing cars according to the "Project Blueprint" specifications.
so its all designed to make the series more even, and the reason its getting more and more even each year, is becouse Holden are getting their equipment closer to the mark each race, but as you can see there was alot they had to do that Ford didnt.
