This has been puzzling me for a few days. Honda F1 have just been out in America trying to set a 400kmh speed record with one of their old V10 cars. They narrowly missed breaking the record but it was quite close.

 

In 1991 the tuning company Jun hit 419kmh with a modded 300zx, setting a world record for its class that I believe still stands. Now this was 15 years ago, with a much heavier, less aerodynamic car. I would guess that the 300zx had some monster bhp but surely the F1 car would not be that much less powerful. The F1 car would definately have a huge power to weight ratio advantage over the zed surely?

 

You would of thought that the F1 car would have been much more capable than it was, my question is why it couldn't beat a 15 year old road car record?

 

(p.s. the Zed was red, so that answers the fastest colour car question :tongue: )

(p.s. the Zed was red, so that answers the fastest colour car question )

PMSL

I think the Z has the record for a front engine, rear wheel drive car ;)

I think the Z has the record for a front engine, rear wheel drive car ;)

 

Yes, I understand they are classed differently but the point I'm trying to make is that irrespective of what record Honda are chasing, its interesting to see they are struggling to reach the speeds the Zed achieved.

Would imagine the F1 car has a much, much higher cd due to the amount of downforce it produces so is actually less aerodynamic at least in terms of drag.

Would imagine the F1 car has a much, much higher cd due to the amount of downforce it produces so is actually less aerodynamic at least in terms of drag.

 

I had thought about that but apparently they binned the rear wing completely and used a vertical 'fin' instead to keep it in a straight line. They also had to jack the suspension up because of the bumpy surface. So yes, it probably had much more downforce but it probably weighed less than half the zed to start with.

Weight doesn't make a huge difference to top speed, just really drag and power (and gear ratios!). Even without the wing I'd imagine the cd is big, swoopy rear bodywork, aero section wishbones etc etc all adds up.

i would think a f1 car is the last thing in shape and design that could substain a speed record in comparsin with a curvy saloon car,and allso the power in terms of brutal bhp may be high but its the way its deliverd that has a lot to do with it surely

Definately a drag/power issue.

The Jun had a much smaller front intake and smooth front end, and a small matter of xxxxbhp to help it get there.

As John said the drag on the F1 car will still be high in comparison. Have they increased the power output to help?

Think the top spec V10's were around 900bhp, Jun car ~1200.

Don't imagine they could get anymore from the V10 other than raising the rev limit and using one engine per run or something.

i remember once reading an interesting fact that a formula 1 car could generate soooo much downforce that in theory at full tilt it could drive upside down.