Re: First Quattro in F1

["Graydon D. Stuckey" <graydon@apollo.gmi.edu>]

On Sat, 17 May 1997, Brian J White wrote:

> Well...if you look at Quattro to be Audi specific then yes, it would be the
> first Quattro in F1, but AWD is not new to Formula One.
> BRM, McLaren, Lola (or was it Lotus) all tried AWD cars in the mid 70s.   At
> that time AWD would have made a big difference as aerodynamics were just
> then being introduced, and were not fully developed.    But within a year or
> so, aero became the way to go, thus giving alot of the added traction that
> AWD would have producted without the added weight penalty.    

I doubt that Audi would do anything except fund the team initially.  They
don't have the engine or chassis technology that I am aware of.  However,
they put the rally world on their ears when Audi entered rallying with the
first Quattro, so it may be possible in F1.  I also think that AWD was
banned from F1 along with 6-wheels when the Tyrrell P-34 was banned.  That
was a long time ago though, so the rules may have deletd that prohibition. 

Personally, I think that AWD would be worth the weight penalty given F1s 
lack of traction in slow turns.   For one thing, it would be a very small 
weight penalty if the system was designed right, and built with light 
weight materials.   Thye don't need a lot of tork up front, so if the 
system was designed to transmit only as much tork as needed, then it 
could be quite light.   On a faster track, AWD may not be as 
much of an advantage.   AWD is also very difficult to package in a single 
seater F1 car.   I'd love to see it done though.

Later,
Graydon D. Stuckey 

"Cool name man!" - Jay Graydon   :-)