FEBRUARY 11, 2002

Brakes to the fore

There is expected to be much talk of brakes when the new season gets underway in Australia as there are more than a few engineers who feel that brakes which are being cooled with what are effectively turbines are actually being used because they help to improve the flow of air over the front end of the car.

THERE is expected to be much talk of brakes when the new season gets underway in Australia as there are more than a few engineers who feel that brakes which are being cooled with what are effectively turbines are actually being used because they help to improve the flow of air over the front end of the car. The rules state very clearly that cars are not allowed to have moving aerodynamic parts. The argument as to whether these braking systems are aerodynamically-important or not looks likely to be an issue and was the FIA technical department is not allowed to do anything other than give an opinion rather than a ruling, it is left to the stewards of the meeting to come up with a decision - although they will only do that if there is a challenge.