Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Most race car aerodynamic packages are developed iteratively, although the interaction between progressively added aerodynamic devices remains an important area of study. This study investigates the aerodynamic evolution of a simplified GT-style race car using RANS CFD with the k-ω SST turbulence model at 200 km/h Eight configurations (A-H) were analyzed, gradually introducing components like a ducktail spoiler, rear wing, and more. The baseline design featured a drag coefficient of 0.304 and a positive lift coefficient of +0.476. Subsequent iterations resulted in configuration H achieving a lift coefficient of -1.452 and a 405% shift in lift coefficient compared to the baseline with a drag coefficient of 0.573. Various non-linear interaction effects were identified, indicating that effective aerodynamic development requires a holistic system approach rather than simply adding components. However no diminishing returns were observed in the performance metrics across configurations.
DOI: 10.31224/8624
Author: Arjuna Sankar
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223653858