The Formula 1 car racing circuit is sometimes referred to as the F1 circuit and is the highest class achievable in motor sports racing. This ruling was made by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. The FIA is responsible for governing all of the car racing sports competed in worldwide. As such, they have set down some very strict guidelines for both the vehicles entered into the races and the drivers who operate them. This is where the term "formula" comes from. Formula 1 racing is often mistaken for Indy car racing. While the cars are similar, the F1 class is higher and the rules and regulations are very different.
The Formula One circuit is made up of street car racing, which is referred to as the Grand Prix. One thing that is distinctly different about the Formula 1 racing circuit is that there are two championships at the end of the circuit: one for the car constructors and one for the drivers. A race of this type is generally held on a specially built car race track or on a roadway. The road races are perhaps the most popular of the Formula 1 races; the most widely known being the Monaco Grand Prix.
Formula 1 car racing involves vehicles that are modified for optimal performance. The speed that can be obtained in one of these cars can reach 360 mph. On corners, at high speeds, g-force is experienced. The constructors of the cars are members of the car racing team and they must follow a certain set of rules when putting the cars together; however, they are allowed some leeway to modify the aerodynamics, electronics, tires, and suspension to improve performance on the track.
The Formula 1 car racing vehicles are all somewhat similar as well. They all have a single seat and they all have an open cockpit. They must choose from a list of approved engine manufacturers, including Toyota, Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, BMW and Renault. The tires, during the 2008 racing season, must be made by Bridgestone. There are twenty drivers total for the en teams that will compete each year in the Formula One racing circuit. For more information, visit www.formula1.com. It is a great source for more info about this type of sports auto racing.
Friday, December 5, 2008
What Is The Formula 1 Car Racing?
Deciphering The Formula 1 Car Race Rules
The vehicles used in a Formula 1 car race are highly specialized and must meet certain standards for performance and other rules set forth by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The regulations for this type of car auto racing are set down for a number of reasons. Among these reasons is the need for safety and uniformity in design and performance, while some leeway is given to the constructors who build the cars, for performance optimization.
The Formula 1 cars have a single seat and an open cockpit. The sports auto chassis is made largely from a carbon fiber composite, which allows for strength and stiffness, while still remaining light. The regulations and car guides set down by the FIA state that the combination of car and driver cannot exceed 600 kg. This includes the engine and any fluids added to it, such as fuel and water.
All of the Formula 1 car race vehicles have one thing in common. They are all close to aerodynamic perfection. Rollovers are prevented by the addition of spoilers, or "wings," which are added strategically to the body of the car. These spoilers force the air passing over the car to push the car towards the roadway and provide stabilization. Recently, car racing teams have been gradually adding additional small wings to the body to further improve the cars performance both on the straightaway and in the curves. Because the car is very light, there is a great chance for it to lift up if air gets under it. For this reason, all of the cars have bodies or frames that sit very near to the ground.
Each Formula 1 car race has specific tires that the car racing teams are required to use. They are designed for a specific purpose. Prior to 1998, all of the teams were required to use what is called a slick tire. These were tires with no tread at all. In 1998, the FIA mandated the use of a grooved tire. These tires had four grooves in them and were designed to limit the speed at which the cars could turn. Slick tires are making a comeback though and will be allowed on the F1 car race track again in the 2009 car racing sports season.