Fan Car
A fan car is a racing vehicle that uses a large fan to suck air from underneath the car, creating a vacuum that pulls the car down onto the track for better grip and faster cornering speeds.
The basic principle behind a fan car is similar to a vacuum cleaner stuck to carpet. The fan extracts air from beneath the vehicle, creating an area of low pressure. Since the air pressure above the car remains normal, the higher pressure pushes down on the car, forcing it harder against the road surface. This increased force gives the tires more grip, allowing the car to corner faster and brake harder without sliding.
What makes fan cars unique in motorsport is that they generate downforce without needing to move fast. Traditional race cars use wings and specially shaped bodies that only create downforce when air flows over them at high speed. A fan car, however, actively creates its suction effect even when sitting still, giving it an advantage at low speeds and in slow corners where other cars struggle for grip.
To make the fan system work effectively, the underside of the car needs to be sealed off from the surrounding air. Racing teams achieve this using flexible skirts around the car's edges that slide along the ground, creating a sealed chamber underneath. Think of it like an upside-down hovercraft that's trying to stick to the ground instead of floating above it.
The most famous fan car in racing history is the Brabham BT46B, which competed in Formula 1 in 1978. Designed by engineer Gordon Murray, this car featured a large fan at the rear that was connected to the main engine. The team claimed the fan was primarily for engine cooling, which helped them argue it was legal under the racing rules of the time. The car won its only race at the Swedish Grand Prix with driver Niki Lauda behind the wheel.
Despite its success, the Brabham BT46B never raced again in fan car configuration. Other teams protested loudly, arguing that the fan gave an unfair advantage. There were also safety concerns because the fan reportedly threw dust, debris, and small stones at cars following behind. Racing officials eventually classified the fan as a movable aerodynamic device, which violated the regulations, leading to fan cars being effectively banned from Formula 1.
Before the Brabham, the Chaparral 2J tried the fan car concept in the Can-Am sports car series in 1970. This car used two fans powered by a separate snowmobile engine rather than the main racing engine. Like the Brabham, it faced protests and was eventually banned, preventing fan cars from gaining a permanent foothold in professional racing.
The fan car concept has recently returned in road cars. Gordon Murray, who designed the original Brabham fan car, incorporated a fan system into his T.50 supercar. However, this modern version uses the fan differently, helping manage airflow under the car rather than creating massive downforce for racing.