What Makes Motor Sport Vehicles Perform the Way They Do

1. 
   What is it about motor racing that makes it so hugely compelling to the viewers? Why do people go crazy when they hear the shrilling scream of the engines and the vroom of the car or motorcycle tyres as they burn on the track because of the sheer speed? The images of ting super vehicles zipping around designer tracks at more than 180 km/hr does not go away from the minds of motor racing enthusiasts. These vehicles can go from 0-100 and back to zero in less than five astonishing seconds. That's what makes motor racing so astounding and remarkable.
   
   There is a lot of complex technology that goes behind these mean machines to keep them in peak performing condition in the grueling races. From the wheels to the gearboxes to the super efficient machines that power these vehicles - every part must be geared to deliver high tech performance. The engineering that goes into a car or a motorcycle that performs in a Grand Prix event is far above the ordinary. What you see here is cutting edge technology at its very best.
   
   Testing is one of the critical features that these components must be subjected to at various levels because minute details add up to a great performance. At the same time, a seemingly small defect can prove to be disastrous to the racer of the vehicle itself when it is competing in such tough conditions.
   
   Almost everything, from the Formula One car themselves to the helmets the racing drivers wear when taking their positions in their favorite car, is developed using high-tech technology and science. It underpins just about everything right from the design and the dynamics to even the size and design of the wheels. Have you ever wondered why F1 cars have such a wide wheel base? It is because the wider the car, the faster it comes.
   
   When a race car approached a corner, as it does several times during a race, the car and the driver would continue to travel on a straight line because of the laws of inertia. An external force must be applied to produce a change in direction towards the center of the curve. That's where centripetal force comes into play. It means a centre-seeking force which acts to change direction of the car but without affecting its speed and velocity. Also, the corners of some racing cars are tilted towards the center. This is to help friction hold the car on the track even when they are traveling at high speeds.