Analysis of an overtaking manoeuvre

Abstract

Every driver wants to finish a race on the top step of the podium. But as only one can sit on pole position, overtaking is of vital importance. The aerodynamics of a modern Formula race car, especially in Formula 1, is optimised in a way that makes it hard to overtake even for faster cars. To get a deeper understanding of the phenomena during overtaking the Italian race car manufacturer Dallara has simulated the overtaking manoeuvre with the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-programme Ansys Fluent.