Bite Size Tech: Force India VJM07 new engine cover - Silverstone test

Force India have been going quietly about their business all season, making strides against some of the more established teams. Their ability to control tyre wear has also stood them in good stead whilst they awaited a large raft of upgrades scheduled for Silverstone. With the programme moving more swiftly than anticipated they were able to bring most of these forward to Austria and so the VJM07 carried most of the parts used there in Silverstone. However as part of their continued assault on the old guard the team tested a new engine cover in the post GP test.

The new Engine Cover (right) makes much more use of the centralised rear wing support pylon's lower section that encapsulates the exhaust. The conical element is placed and shaped in such a way that the exhaust draws the airflow from surrounding areas through it, making it easier to shrink wrap the rest of the engine cover, with airflow being pulled through and over the cover and sidepods. Apart from being slimmed considerably the cover features an enlarged shark fin, to come inline with the size regulations in the area. 

Meanwhile the inlet snorkel that used to sit astride the top of the engine cover just aft of the airbox is also deleted. The snorkel fed a cooler that sat just behind the turbo's turbine and has likely been re-located, with the bodywork being shrunk in that region too. Having avoided using the cockpit cooling chimneys early in the season, these return to help cool the car.