Ogilvie and Rudd reasoned that to take a further step ahead of the competition, the new car should be designed as one huge ground effect system, starting just behind the nose and extending all the way to the back of the car beyond the rear wheels. An additional ground effect system was built into the nose, in an effort to turn the whole chassis into an aerodynamic device. In theory this would create a tremendous amount of downforce, so the chassis would have to be built to be more structurally rigid than that of the Lotus 79. The 80 also would not need wings due to the massive downforce. Chapman approved the idea at once.
The car appeared resplendent in British racing green, since John Player Special had pulled out of F1. The car featured 'Coke bottle' sidepods, something that would become familiar in the 1980s. However, a serious problem was encountered during testing. Mario Andretti reported that at speed the car behaved very well, but in braking and cornering, where speeds were lower, the car lost downforce alarmingly then regained it unexpectedly. It was discovered the car was generating too much downforce for the driver to cope with. The problem was twofold: firstly, the ground effect's low pressure area under the car was moving around with the car's centre of gravity. The phenomenon was known as porpoising, as the car appeared to be lifting and squatting at different speeds, causing it to lurch violently through corners. Secondly, the slightest difference in track ride height including off cambered corners, kerbs, etc. affected the undercar pressure hugely. The team experimented by fitting the car with wings, but this had little effect on the way the car behaved. Andretti persevered with the car, but his new team mate Carlos Reutemann refused to drive it and stayed with the Lotus 79.
Competition history
Chapman eventually had to admit the 80 was not the wondercar he had planned, and after a reasonable third place for Andretti in the 1979 Spanish Grand Prix,[1] Andretti qualified the car fifth for the Belgian Grand Prix but raced the Lotus 79 due to problems with the Lotus 80. [2] The problems with the Lotus 80 became obvious in the Monaco Grand Prix[3] and the French Grand Prix with Andretti retiring from both races.[4] The Lotus 79 was modified and pressed back into service.
It was a massive setback for the team, and for the car which had appeared so promising. However, Chapman persevered with the concept of a full length ground effect chassis in the Lotus 88.
^1 Includes 35 points that were scored with the Lotus 79.
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lotus 80.
Footnotes
^"Grand Prix results, Spanish GP 1979". grandprix.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
^"1979 Belgian Grand Prix". statsf1.com. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^"Grand Prix results, Monaco GP 1979". grandprix.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
^"Grand Prix results, French GP 1979". grandprix.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
Sources
Walsh, M. (June 1998). "Seat of Power". Classic & Sports Car. 4 (17): 88–93.
"Lotus 80 (1979)". www.jpslotus.org. Retrieved 14 October 2007. (Specifications.)
Lotus 80 (article, photos, technical details and results)
January 10, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Lotus 80 was a Formula One car used by Team Lotus in 1979 The car designed by Colin Chapman Martin Ogilvie Peter Wright and Tony Rudd was an attempt to take ground effect as far as possible Lotus 80CategoryFormula OneConstructorTeam LotusDesigner s Colin Chapman Technical Director Martin Ogilvie Chief Designer Peter Wright Head of Aerodynamics Geoff Aldridge Chief Engineer PredecessorLotus 79SuccessorLotus 81Technical specificationsChassisAluminium monocoqueSuspension front Lower wishbone and upper rocker arms with inboard coilover spring damper unitsSuspension rear Lower wishbone and upper rocker arms with inboard coilover spring damper unitsAxle trackFront 70 in 1 778 mm Rrea 64 in 1 626 mm Wheelbase108 in 2 743 mm EngineFord Cosworth DFV 2 993 cc 182 6 cu in 90 V8 NA mid engine longitudinally mountedTransmissionLotus Hewland FGA400 5 speedWeight625 kg 1 378 lb FuelEssexTyresGoodyearCompetition historyNotable entrantsMartini Racing Team LotusNotable driversMario AndrettiDebut1979 Spanish Grand PrixRacesWinsPodiumsPolesF Laps30100Constructors Championships0Drivers Championships0n b Unless otherwise stated all data refer toFormula One World Championship Grands Prix only Contents 1 Design 2 Competition history 3 Complete Formula One results 4 ReferencesDesign EditOgilvie and Rudd reasoned that to take a further step ahead of the competition the new car should be designed as one huge ground effect system starting just behind the nose and extending all the way to the back of the car beyond the rear wheels An additional ground effect system was built into the nose in an effort to turn the whole chassis into an aerodynamic device In theory this would create a tremendous amount of downforce so the chassis would have to be built to be more structurally rigid than that of the Lotus 79 The 80 also would not need wings due to the massive downforce Chapman approved the idea at once The car appeared resplendent in British racing green since John Player Special had pulled out of F1 The car featured Coke bottle sidepods something that would become familiar in the 1980s However a serious problem was encountered during testing Mario Andretti reported that at speed the car behaved very well but in braking and cornering where speeds were lower the car lost downforce alarmingly then regained it unexpectedly It was discovered the car was generating too much downforce for the driver to cope with The problem was twofold firstly the ground effect s low pressure area under the car was moving around with the car s centre of gravity The phenomenon was known as porpoising as the car appeared to be lifting and squatting at different speeds causing it to lurch violently through corners Secondly the slightest difference in track ride height including off cambered corners kerbs etc affected the undercar pressure hugely The team experimented by fitting the car with wings but this had little effect on the way the car behaved Andretti persevered with the car but his new team mate Carlos Reutemann refused to drive it and stayed with the Lotus 79 Competition history EditChapman eventually had to admit the 80 was not the wondercar he had planned and after a reasonable third place for Andretti in the 1979 Spanish Grand Prix 1 Andretti qualified the car fifth for the Belgian Grand Prix but raced the Lotus 79 due to problems with the Lotus 80 2 The problems with the Lotus 80 became obvious in the Monaco Grand Prix 3 and the French Grand Prix with Andretti retiring from both races 4 The Lotus 79 was modified and pressed back into service It was a massive setback for the team and for the car which had appeared so promising However Chapman persevered with the concept of a full length ground effect chassis in the Lotus 88 Lotus 80 Mario Andretti driving the 80 during practice for the 1979 Belgian Grand PrixComplete Formula One results Edit key Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Points WCC1979 Martini Racing Team Lotus Ford Cosworth DFV G ARG BRA RSA USW ESP BEL MON FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA 391 4thMario Andretti 3 PO Ret Ret 1 Includes 35 points that were scored with the Lotus 79 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lotus 80 Footnotes Grand Prix results Spanish GP 1979 grandprix com Retrieved 20 December 2015 1979 Belgian Grand Prix statsf1 com Retrieved 11 May 2020 Grand Prix results Monaco GP 1979 grandprix com Retrieved 20 December 2015 Grand Prix results French GP 1979 grandprix com Retrieved 20 December 2015 SourcesWalsh M June 1998 Seat of Power Classic amp Sports Car 4 17 88 93 Lotus 80 1979 www jpslotus org Retrieved 14 October 2007 Specifications Lotus 80 article photos technical details and results Lotus 80 scanned launch photos and comments in context of ground effect story Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lotus 80 amp oldid 1124565994, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
