What it does: As a car speeds up, downforce pushes it down harder onto the ground. This gives the tires more grip, allowing the car to corner faster and take sharper turns without slipping.
How it's created: Special parts on the car, like front and rear wings, are designed to push air down. The car's underbody can also be shaped to create downforce.
Why it's important: Downforce is especially crucial in racing, where cars must hit high speeds and make tight turns.
Trade-off: While downforce is great for cornering, it also creates drag, which is the force pushing against the car as it moves through the air. This can slow the car down on straightaways.
Beyond racing: Even everyday cars can benefit from some downforce. Spoilers and certain body designs can help with handling, especially at higher speeds.
There are several parts of a car that contribute to downforce, but here are the main ones:
Front wing (front splitter): This is a flat plane located at the very front of the car, just below the bumper. It forces air moving under the car to flow faster, creating a low-pressure zone that sucks the car down onto the road.
Rear wing (rear spoiler): This wing at the back of the car is angled upwards to push down on the car as air flows over it. Race cars will often have adjustable wings to allow for more or less downforce depending on the track.
Underbody: The flat bottom of the car and diffusers at the back can also be shaped to create downforce. The diffuser helps to channel air flowing under the car and smoothly increases its velocity, creating a low-pressure zone.
It's important to remember that even other parts of the car, like the bodywork and side skirts, can affect downforce by influencing air flow around the vehicle.
While these parts are most prominent on racing cars, some aspects can be found on regular cars too. Spoilers on everyday cars might be designed for a bit of downforce, but their main purpose is usually for aesthetics.