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Anything up to about 135-140mph where we run out of gears. Average speeds are 40-50mph.

It's mainly there to encourage the airflow to turn over the bonnet or over the lower splitter (Hidden under the bonnet, but the front end of the skidpans protrude about 8 inches to form a splitter) rather than under the car, should negate some of the lift from the parachutes/mudguards even if doesn't actually give us any front downforce.
I've curved the trailing edge to give more camber at the endplates in an attempt to guide a little bit more air inboard of the mudguards since the flow is so messy there, there is quite a large gurney to go on there yet too.

It's not actually in the right place there, it runs more AoA and with the leading edge about an inch or so lower.

Front wing skinned and foam filled in the leading edge for dent resistance, just needs the edges trimming ready for the sideplates fitting then it can be finished off:

More upgrades today after some testing - and a few teething issues (you know, the normal sheared bolts, oil all over the floor, nearly breaking wrists trying to hold steering wheel against the P/S going nuts) - but I forgot to take pictures, sorry.
The venerable old 106/Saxo pump unit for the power steering system is finally retiring from service, in favour of a more powerful new unit with a solid-state electronic controller.
We now have more fluid flow at full power - which is welcome as with a very short ratio steering rack (a single turn lock-to-lock) the old pump could sometimes lag behind the wheel input in tight corners.
In addition to that it can vary it's speed to hold a target pressure vs loading - so we use a lot less electrical power the rest of the time, including a low speed/low power automatic idle mode when the steering isn't in use such as queueing for a stage start. Might not sound like a big benefit but it's a little more horsepower from the engine due to the lower electrical load, and it eases the strain on the alternator as although we run a large 160amp unit to keep up with the various heavy loads, it still doesn't have much spare when everything is running.
We also have other niceties such as built in fluid filters/air removal chambers and baffled pump inlets to prevent any dirt or air getting sucked into the system whilst bouncing around over the rough.
Anyway, testing today showed everything worked well....eventually anyway...so now we just need to make a new tank for the PAS fluid to suit and perhaps some upgrades to allow a control knob to enable quick switches between various assistance settings (not so much for our car but might be fitting a few to other racers which require more/less pressure).

TL:DR - New P/S pump. Works better than old pump. Is shinier.


Also not mega happy with the throttle response off idle with the amount of charge piping to fill and the charger, despite making a few mapping changes to improve it, got a few more tricks to try but I might look at a bypass valve just to help things at low loadings.

And just in case you hadn't had enough of half finished wing pictures yet....another rear element skeleton built up awaiting foam + skinning:



Also decided to draw 'em up properly in CAD rather than just a skin - means I can work out where best to put the slot gap spacers then. Hoping to get away with a single centre one just to keep things where they should be:

New PAS pump is finished and in, old relegated Peugeot pump sulking in the background...



Mounting bracket - think Ed got a set of holesaws for Christmas...

I once had a mate who drilled holes in every thing he could, on one particular important motorcycle race he was in, the gear leaver broke off because he had drilled so many holes in it. )

He does like his holesaws. Apparently putting them in straight is beyond him though...

One for old Renault fans - the new drive system, soon to meet the lathe for some serious weight reduction and some aluminium centres - shouldn't have any issues with any mud/stones that get through the seals either with these!
They also run a lot quieter with less vibration/stress as an extra bonus.



And of course, can't go without more wings.....now they're red. Red cars are fastest, well known fact. You knew it was going to happen:





And no, your eyes aren't going, it really is fuzzy - it's the weave from the cloth.

...can't be leaving those pulleys like that can we? Where's the lathe gone...





And a bit more lightening and tarting up with a bit of yellow chromate and some of Homer Simpsons 'speed holes'





I reckon that's a winner without going silly on machining time. Best get it made.

Bare pulleys all machined up, awaiting brazing and plating:

Interesting gear cut pattern - never seen that before - very nice though!