Formula One: Virgin
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Whether it is a publicity stunt I know not (Branson is even better that Bridgestone in this field) Virgin are saying their car is the first ever F1 car ,designed, built and tested entirely on a computer.
Now we know why all these new teams are not testing, so watch out Ferrari and the rest, you are wasting your time and money testing in in Spain. Or is it sheer arrogance ?
The car is more important than the driver 75% car 25% driver
Van, what they have actually said is it's been designed purely using CAD and no use of wind tunnels / models etc. They had a shake down at Silverstone today and will be at testing next week with the other teams.
All teams design with CAD, just Virgin have chosen not to use wind tunnels and half size models.
We'll see how well it works next week......
"With two laps to go then the action will begin, unless this is the action, which it is!" - The Great Murray Walker
Not the press release I read SRF
The car is more important than the driver 75% car 25% driver
Here it says they are off to test in Spain next week. I don't think Nick Wirth is particularly stupid - he has designed many cars using a CAD only approach, but testing is still needed of course. Whether this approach works in F1 - well we'll find out next week.
"With two laps to go then the action will begin, unless this is the action, which it is!" - The Great Murray Walker
I am guessing there is no virtual-world replacement for physical component testing and their reliability. What about manufacturing. I am sure there are design constraints with respect to machining of parts that are quality controlled and reliable.
"Everything is fair in Love and War and Formula1" -- Martin Brundle, Shanghai 2008
Interesting design in comparison to some of the other teams that have already launched. Wirth has had quite a bit of experience using CAD systems to design and aerodynamically test new cars but being out there with the others gives you a better sense of where you stand and how well your design theory worked. I am curious to see where they are in relationship to the others and the rest of the new teams.
I hear it is going to be wet in Spain next week
The car is more important than the driver 75% car 25% driver
Interesting design in comparison to some of the other teams that have already launched. Wirth has had quite a bit of experience using CAD systems to design and aerodynamically test new cars but being out there with the others gives you a better sense of where you stand and how well your design theory worked. I am curious to see where they are in relationship to the others and the rest of the new teams.
True Jagman. I have used blueprints ( CAD or not) for years with the final outcome quite often using the old standby phrase " It's not exactly per print but I think you'll like it" Theory is wonderful but making it work is quite another. Ditto as well F1-FAN
" I can't drive 55" Sammy Hagar
Edited by wreckless on 06 February 2010 at 12:32
wreckless and jagman interesting comments but with limited on track testing they have no alternative than turn to the computer and trust in the real time testing to adjust their findings
The car is more important than the driver 75% car 25% driver
Van, looks as though your concerns may have been realised - The Virgin car suffered a front wing fall off today in testing. They reckon they know the cause, but is this the reality for the 4 new teams - Money/Time/Experience etc not yet enough?
Hope it doesn't happen again and cause a big crash.
"With two laps to go then the action will begin, unless this is the action, which it is!" - The Great Murray Walker
McLaren had problems with wings some years ago, and they have a lot of expertise and resources. For new teams that start from scratch you can expect a lot of unusual failures and low performance at the begining, as they have no background, no historical data to rely on, no previous designs; at the end of the year we'll be able to see if they have some potential or not.
I expect Lotus to be adecent car, they have Gascoyne after all.
DC3: old all-terrain reliable aircraft (most of the time), nothing to do with any scot (of course, that scot is gone!)
Van, looks as though your concerns may have been realised - The Virgin car suffered a front wing fall off today in testing. They reckon they know the cause, but is this the reality for the 4 new teams - Money/Time/Experience etc not yet enough?
Hope it doesn't happen again and cause a big crash.
"With two laps to go then the action will begin, unless this is the action, which it is!" - The Great Murray Walker
Front wing? That will be caused by aero loads not predicted by their beloved CFD! lol 
Seriously though, they all use CFD but as always with CFD you validate the results with tests. Remember the Renault debacle a couple of years ago when the car was slow and it was all put down mid season to a badly calibrated new wind tunnel? Choosing not to use one may mean you can't afford the time or money. Why dis-use a tool available to you when chasing ultimate performance? I predict they're back of the griders.
Nick Wirths Simtek team never amassed to much except the achievment to get to the grid in the first place. Althougth his engineering qualifications are impecable.
Rules are for fools to obey & wise men to interpret. ACBC
Edited by Marty F on 11 February 2010 at 22:19
or the williams around 5 years ago when they based their results on the wrong scale from the tunnel, or some such business at the beginning of the season.
"If big were better, my wife wouldn't have me on this treadmill"