Both Michael Schumacher and Rubens
Barichello have avowed that their goal for 2002 is to give
Ferrari the World Driver’s Championship and the
Manufacturer’s Championship. For Schumacher, this is
definitely a high possibility, noting his dominance last year.
For Rooby Baby, this is probably the result of believing his
own PR handouts, rather than looking at the actual facts!
The
car they hope to do this in is the newly released Ferrari F
2002. This is, according to the press release, the most
advanced F1 Ferrari yet. Maranello’s engineers have improved
aerodynamic efficiency and lowered the centre of gravity
compared to last year’s car.
In spite of no major changes to FIA
technical regulations and apparent aesthetic similarities to
last year’s model the F2001, all aspects of the car have
been completely redesigned to achieve the maximum in on-track
performance, according to the Ferrari publicity blurb.
The chassis is new, both in terms of its
design and construction, resulting in weight reduction and
greater structural integrity. Visible changes can be seen in
the side pods, radiators, exhausts and the rear of the car,
which are all completely new.
Both front and rear suspensions have been
revised to hopefully optimise the performance and consistency
of the Bridgestone tyres but with particular attention to
improving the car’s aerodynamics.
Scuderia Ferrari’s technical director
Ross Brawn said they wanted to take the risk and build a car
better than last year’s, and spelled out the philosophy
behind the F2002. “This year was unique in that we could
race our previous year’s car - a car that didn’t do too
badly,” Brawn said (winning both championships wasn’t bad,
Ross). “What was clear, unlike previous years, we did not
need to build a car because of a change of regulations but we
should only build a car if we believed it could be better.
“At the time when we would normally
release the designs of the car we were not satisfied with the
margin of improvement - it was not enough.
“Because this was a year when we could
run the old car, we decided to prolong the development to
ensure we made an appreciable step in performance. This has
resulted in a shorter period of testing before the first
race.”
On the mechanical side, the 051 engine,
like its predecessor is load bearing and mounted
longitudinally, as is the transmission. The latter is
completely novel, especially in the usage of materials and the
method of gear selection.
And though much smaller and lighter the
F2002’s titanium gearbox - which has seven sequential,
hydraulically operated gears - is not ‘integrated’ with
the engine as speculated before the launch.
The materials used in transmission and
engine have been specially developed to reduce weight and
bulk. The exhausts remain high level, a Ferrari trend now
followed by the rest of F1.
F2002 Technical Specifications
Engine:
3000 Ferrari (Type 051), V10
Total Displacement: 2.997 ccm
Timing Gear: 40 valves
Fuel Feed: Magneti Marelli digital electronic injection
Ignition: Magneti Marelli static electronic ignition
Transmission: Semi-automatic sequential
electronically controlled gearbox, limited-slip differential,
7 gears + reverse
Chassis: Carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Front Suspension: Independent suspension,
push-rod activated torsion springs
Rear Suspension: Independent suspension,
push-rod activated torsion springs
Brakes: Ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes
Length: 4.495 mm
Width: 1.796 mm
Height: 959 mm
Front Track: 1.470 mm
Rear Track: 1.405 mm
Kerb Weight (with water and oil): 600kg
Wheels: 13"
We will have to wait and see if the new car is reliable and
faster than the 2001 model, but we do know that F2002 is
certainly strong, with both Schumacher and Barichello having
crash tested the new chassis’ convincingly!
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be
the first correct answer to fax 427 596 or email [email protected]
So
this week - let’s get into the “classic” car mode here.
Hispano-Suiza. This was the marque which pioneered
servo-assist brakes and indeed Rolls-Royce later used a
similar mechanism built under license from Hispano-Suiza. Now
this famous manufacturer was not Spanish (Hispano) nor Swiss (Suiza)
but was in fact French. The Spanish connection came about
because originally the cars were made in Barcelona, and the
Swiss connection came through the brilliant Swiss designer
Mark Birkigt. The bonnet mascot was a stork. So that will do
for this week’s quiz. Where did the stork come from?