So we’ve decided we want aero, how much and how do you set it?

Lets start at the front.

The splitters main function on a race car is to divide the air cleanly as the car travels through it. On a ground force car, the splitter is set very low and will stop the air from travelling under the car and generate an effective vacuum sucking the car to the track. Williams did this very effectively with a “fan-car” in F1 in the early 80s, it was so successful it was banned after it’s first race. Next came the “skirted” F1 cars of the late 80s. These too were banned after the sad death of Ayrton Senna at Imola but these are extreme examples, what can we do with a TVR?

For us there are 4 main effects, two are obvious and don’t relate to speed.

1. To prevent lift. By stopping the air being pushed under the car (by the forward raked radiator in the Griff). This is what causes the lightening feeling at speed. 
2. Improved braking
3. Reduced mid corner under steer.
4. Improved cooling (as the air is forced through the rad).

The splitter is set by getting a couple of burly guys to sit in the boot and with a spirit level, adjust the angle for dead level. This means that the splitter is in a neutral attitude when accelerating down the straights and the car is sat down at the back. This means minimal drag. However, when braking, the car will pitch forward on its suspension increasing the rake of the car and therefore of the splitter. The splitter will grab a load of air and increase down force allowing more braking force to be used.  This gives even more angle and the effect continues. This is the biggest gain on the track. Vastly improved braking effect.

Now consider the car entering the corner. After braking on the non-aero car, as you lift off the brakes and turn into the corner, the car rebounds on its suspension just as you turn in. This reduces steering effect and induces under steer in the corner. This is called mid corner washout in the trade. The aero car however, still has around 200 kg of extra downforce weight pushing the front tyres into the track as the car enters the corner, reducing the rebound effect and allowing the driver enter the corner faster, increasing airspeed and therefore downforce etc.So as you can see, there’s a win win with a splitter as it has very little drag but two major plus effects. This is a bargain in motor racing, but also for the road.

On the Monster Griff we also run SC-Powers winglets. Though these generate drag all the time, they still add a substantial effect in the corners. As they are set to continue the lines of the front of the Griff I actually prefer the look of the car with them on. Another plus!

            So in conclusion, this is the place to start with any road/track car. Improved braking, stability and cooling from an attractive upgrade that costs around £350-00. It’s a no-brainer really.