16.4.2019. Volkswagen is presenting the ID. R this year, a new challenge: Nürburgring Nordschleife instead of Pikes Peak. A circular route instead of the mountain track. Full-throttle passages instead of hairpin curves. According to the purely electrically driven ID. R in terms of its aerodynamics will be further developed.
“In the almost identical length of approximately 20 kilometres of the Nordschleife for the aerodynamics is a very different challenge than the Pikes Peak mountain race circuit,” says François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director of Volkswagen Motorsport. “In the U.S., the maximum output what is the goal. Because the speed will be on the Nordschleife higher, the aerodynamic configuration of the ID. R for the most efficient use of battery charge is a higher meaning.“
On the Nordschleife it’s not the primary on the output, but also low air resistance. In addition, the air in the Eifel region is at a height of up to 600 meters, much denser than on Pikes Peak, where the goal is to 4.302 meters. “This results in a completely different base data for the dimensions of the aerodynamic AIDS,” explains Dr. Hervé Dechipre, the engineer responsible for the aerodynamics of the ID. R.
In addition to a revised underbody and new spoiler at the front of the vehicle, the ID received. R is also a newly designed rear wing. In order to offer to the wind less surface area for attack is much lower than the Pikes Peak variant used. The new multi-wing V-tail of the ID. R generated in the medium-fast of the 73 bends of the Nordschleife, however, a high contact pressure.
Unlike in formula 1: save energy instead of Overtaking
The air resistance section reducing manner, the rear wing of a formula 1 well – known technology is the so-called Drag Reduction System (DRS). In the king class of motor sports, the DRS is used to facilitate higher-speed Overtaking. In the case of the Solo journey of the ID. R is used, the folding Element of the rear wing, however, to conserve existing energy reserves. “Between maximum employment and the complete flat Position of the difference in output is about 20 percent,” explains Dechipre.
Special meaning in the DRS, if the ID. R the “Döttinger höhe”, the almost three-kilometre-long Straight at the end of a lap on the Nordschleife. “With activated DRS less energy is required to keep the Maximum speed over the whole Döttinger höhe”, he says Dechipre. “In addition, the ID achieved. Its maximum speed is faster and with a lesser expenditure of energy.“
With the ID. R sporty spearhead of the future all-electric series-production vehicles the ID. Family combines the high potential of the electric drive with the Emotion and the fascination of racing. There are not only technical but also optical Parallel. Similar to the future series-production vehicles from the ID. The family therefore needs the ID. R comparatively few Openings in the body shell to the cooling air flow. “The electric engines get by with little cooling,” says Dechipre. “ID. R, therefore requires less air inlets than conventional cars, which means aerodynamically a big advantage.“
Tests in the wind tunnel with the model and use of vehicle
In analogy to the preparation of the record-breaking run at Pikes Peak last year, Volkswagen has the aerodynamics of the ID. R, therefore, tested in the wind tunnel, initially with a 1 : 2 model. In the next step, the fine work was continued with the race car in the original size. “There we were, the movements of the ID. R when braking or Steering, and the resulting changes in the aerodynamic simulation,“ describes Dechipre.
To be able To as many as possible variants of the use of Computer simulation designed aerodynamic components to test, Volkswagen Motorsport again used the benefits of 3D printing. This can be particularly elaborate, but structurally only a lightly loaded vehicle to produce plastic parts in short time with high cost savings. “An example of the air baffles are in front of the rear Wheel arch, the air flow around the rear wheel is optimized,” he says Dechipre.
The high speed of the 20.832 km long Nordschleife of the sections can contribute significantly to the ID. R the electric lap record of 6:45,90 minutes and a clear Statement of the efficiency of the electric drive of the Volkswagen.
Volkswagen ID. R in the wind tunnel (photo: Volkswagen AG)
