Scuderia Toro Rosso will be taking the wraps off their 2012 challenger, the STR7 at 4:30pm (UK time) If anyone can find a website showing the launch please post it here. Looking forward to this very much , hopefully a departure from tradition with that livery as well.
I do like the Toro Rosso car. In all honestly, I find it to be the best looking car. Edit: The older models.
All these stepped noses makes you think. Have Mclaren called it right or have they gone for beauty over speed. The step on the Toro Rosso looks quite high
That's the worry with the McLaren and it's like they're out of kilter with general opinion. They may have compromised too much on the underside of the car to keep the flowing lines. Or it may be a a stroke of genius in terms of airflow. Toro Rosso appear to have almost doubled the V nose height to compensate for the step up, but I'd like to see another angle..
I honestly don't think there's a huge aero benefit to having the stepped nose, as long as the bulkhead is high enough to mount the suspension on. The higher noses induce more airflow to the floor but raises the cars centre of gravity. I think Ferrari, with their pull rod front suspension, would've been better going for a lower bulkhead and a less dramatic step.
Is it possible to have the V and the step but the nose going smoothly through the V right up to the cockpit? That would of been a better solution I would of thought. Maybe widen the bulk a bit too. please log in to view this image
McLarens nose is as low as last year so in theory its ok, or at least they have a few seasons worth of testing to perfect the low nose.
Apart from the intended safety aspects, I thought one of the FIA's objectives in introducing this rule was to limit the scope for aerodynamic devices on the car's underside (ground effects that are not 'ground effects'), so there's a deliberate disbenefit (to the teams) in this relatively limited area of aero. Is the general opinion that the step will improve downforce at the front end? I'd've thought the disruption to airflow caused by the step would be of greater significance, hence my confusion over Ferrari not sculpting it nicely.
Oh good god it's hideous. That rear wing is out of kilter with the rest of the livery, the stepped nose looks cluttered, the sidepods seemed all squished... Do. Not. Want.
That looks so basic. The only difference I see from last year is the nose. However there may be some hidden tricks inside.
Yeah, nothing wrong with that. I would put that on par with the Sauber, nothing great, but nothing too bad either.
Like Genji, I can understand Bando's comment here. This must be a nagging concern for those who'd like to see McLaren do well. I agree that the rear wing looks out of place Tom: it looks like they added something from a kit which came in red and forgot to paint it. As for the nose, compared with most others, I think this is a reasonably elegant interpretation of the new rule.
See! this is the way I would of went with the nose concept, more smooth up to the cockpit. I dont work for STR...
