FIA bans suspension system reactive ride height for 2012 season – Formula 1 news
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has banned the suspension system known as reactive ride height for the 2012 season.
Reactive ride height is a system that allowed the car to maintain its height during braking to remain stable and easy to manoeuvre. The system definitely allowed the car to be more aerodynamic and that is the reason behind FIA’s decision to ban it.
In the 2011 season, FIA made a mess of things as it tried to ban the off-throttle blown diffuser mid-season. After a lot of teams found it difficult to change the design and mechanics of the car during a running season, FIA after getting agreement from all
the teams overturned its decision and postponed it until the end of the season. The decision caused a furore amongst some teams who criticised FIA over the handling of the issue and blamed their poor showing in the season due to it.
However, learning from their mistakes FIA has took a decision prior to the season to ban the reactive ride height system. Lotus were the pioneers of this system and were looking to gain advantage over other teams using it.
Ferrari were another team that was looking into the system with a keen eye on its legality. The fact that the system processes through its reaction to the brake torque and not driver activated made it a dodgy loophole.
Lotus will be launching its 2012 edition of the car on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 1700 CET. The launch will be just ahead of the first pre-season test being held at Jerez.
Williams chief operations engineer Mark Gillian announced that FIA has banned the system.
“The FIA has just banned that particular type of system,” Gillian told The Flying Lap. “We have been investigating that type of system for a while. It obviously has an impact on the aero platform of the car, [and] anything that gets the front ride height
lower is beneficial from an aerodynamic perspective.”
The first pre-season test on February 7, 2012 will feature most team’s cars. Mercedes are the only team to have confirmed that they will not be participating in the first pre-season test.
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