From Speed Machines to Downforce Beasts!
The development of spoilers in motorsport is closely linked with the evolving understanding of aerodynamics, which advanced significantly during the 1950s and 1960s. No, when we talk about 'wings' here, we don't mean the ones promised by a famous energy drink. We mean the spoilers that define modern race cars. Looking at old images from the 1950s or early 1960s, you'll see slender, cigar-shaped single-seaters.
Their shape was dictated by the mechanics, as was typical since the early days of motorsport. This often resulted in sleek, simple, and beautiful race cars. Aerodynamics were not entirely unknown but were mainly considered in vehicles built to break speed records. On racetracks, low weight was the priority. Adding unnecessary parts to the car seemed unthinkable back then.
Early Concepts in the 1950s:
The idea of using airflow to improve vehicle stability emerged in the 1950s. Drivers and engineers realized that race cars generated lift at high speeds, which could destabilize the vehicle. Initial attempts were made to stabilize cars with small wing profiles on the sides. For instance, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SLR featured such small air deflectors. However, it would take some time before modern spoilers became standard.
1965: Race Cars Grew Wings!
The Chaparral 2C, created by Texan driver, engineer, and oil heir Jim Hall, introduced the first wing around 60 years ago. Initially, Hall fitted simple air blades to the front and rear of his design. However, with support from General Motors, he discovered that an adjustable rear wing could reduce lap times. Soon, his Chaparral featured a mechanism that allowed increased downforce in corners and reduced drag on straights.
Hubert Hahne with his Lola T102, Works-BMW formula 2 at the Nürburgring – Picture: Archiv AutoNatives.de
To maximize the effect, Hall mounted the rear wing of the Chaparral 2E in 1967 above the car using struts, placing it in cleaner airflow for better efficiency. This principle quickly spread to other racing classes. Lotus introduced wings at the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix, and just two weeks later, at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, other teams also equipped their cars with wings. Copying has always been part of Formula 1!
Practically overnight, wings became standard equipment.
Teams rapidly developed increasingly sophisticated designs: lighter for weight savings, taller for more downforce. Some cars even sported wings towering more than a meter above the body. However, teams underestimated the forces involved. Not all chassis could handle the stress.
Wing mounts frequently broke, causing serious accidents. At the 1969 Spanish Grand Prix in Montjuïc, Barcelona, the rear wing on Graham Hill's Lotus 49 collapsed while he was traveling over 200 km/h. Fortunately, the three-time world champion walked away unscathed. Just a few laps later, Jochen Rindt's Lotus suffered a similar failure at the same spot.
Regulators responded by banning the towering constructions. Only race cars with wings integrated into the body were allowed. Yet, the concept of aerodynamic aids had firmly taken root. Teams began designing cars around their wings, and soon the entire vehicle was treated as an aerodynamic element.
The 1970s: Ground Effect and Fixed Wings
March was one of the first to equip a race car with side-mounted wing profiles, though the effect was limited. In the late 1970s, engineers discovered ground effect. The Lotus 79, introduced in 1978, revolutionized the sport. Its underbody was designed to accelerate airflow underneath the car, creating a suction effect that pinned it to the track. Spoilers and wings further enhanced this effect.
Carlos Reutemann droves his Lotus 79 in Imola at the Dino Ferrari Grand Prix 1979 - Picture Archiv AutoNatives.de
After ground effect cars were banned, teams returned to classic spoilers and wings, which remain a core element of motorsport aerodynamics today. Modern Formula 1 cars feature highly complex wings with adjustable components (DRS – Drag Reduction System), providing downforce in corners and minimal drag on straights, much like Jim Hall envisioned with his Chaparral.
Key Milestones in Motorsport Aerodynamics:
- 1950s: Early experiments with small air deflectors and streamlined bodywork.
- 1960s: Jim Hall and Colin Chapman experiment with large rear wings.
- 1970s: Ground effect transforms aerodynamics.
Picture credits: Archiv AutoNatives.de