We all know and love the Ariel Atom because of Top Gear’s Clarkson portrayal but there’s so much more going on with the hyper-minimalist design that ditches a normal body in favor of the exposed frame.
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The Aero-P Atom prototype uses both passive and active aerodynamics to achieve this, designed using computer fluid dynamics (CFD). It has also been developed to improve engine-cooling efficiency for both internal combustion engines and hybrid electric motors.
Reducing underbody air pressure and creating a ground effect were the ultimate crazes in F1 in the 1970s, and Lotus dominated with the 78 and 79 “John Player Special” models. Not only that, but drag is substantially reduced. This technology of using fans to create more downforce is not new. Produced in collaboration with TotalSim and Delta Motorsport, the Aero-P’s fans operate using a standalone battery which can be controlled either manually, or deployed automatically during braking, accelerating and cornering. However, this won’t be a problem for Ariel that it’s not making a racing vehicle for the track, it’s a racing auto for the road. We’re moving towards the point where traction and therefore acceleration, particularly from standstill, are limited by mechanical grip so were trying to come up with ways of overcoming this.
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Like the 1978 Brabham BT46B Fancar, that was designed by Gordon Murray and subsequently banned from competing, the little Ariel mounts two high-speed fans under the auto and seals the underside using a rubber skirt. “One of our targets was to minimise or remove the need for aerofoils and have downforce when stationary”, said Simon Saunders, Director of Ariel.
