A very interesting subject. Close visual comparison of the pictures of the new Ford GT vs. the original GT40 reveals what appears to be a diference in the leading edge (over the radiator opening). The shape of the original GT40 in this area is bull-nosed while the new Ford GT appears to be pointy (with the sharp edge possibly continuing along the edge of the front clip and meeting with the upper line of the side scoop in the door panel). My question is whether this is the change that was required in order to go from the front end lift of the original GT40 to the downforce of the new Ford GT? After reading the following the answer would appear to be "yes" (unless there is some more info which is not being revealed):
From the July 2003 Automobile Magazine article by Mark Gillies on the new Ford GT, at page 45:
"Close attention has been paid to the aerodynamics. After all, the GT's shape mimics closely the original GT40, and automobile aero has moved on since the 1960s. Tom Reichenbach, vehicle engineering manageer, says that 'lots of time was spent in the wind tunnel. The original car went there, too, and we found that it was good for flow but had bad front-end lift. As the designers wanted to keep the shape faithful, we knew there would be lift problems. What we found was that the guys in the 1960s simply needed to add a proper front-end splitter with clean separation.
"We actually ended up with more front end downforce than we initially wanted,' he continues. 'We balanced that with extra rear downforce.' which is provided by a racing-style venturi tunnel that starts ahead of the rear axle line. There is also a rear wicker spoiler.'"
Does anyone on the Forum have any more info or insight into the question of how the design was modified to change lift to downforce? Would it be a good idea to modify the front end of a replica vehicle by making leading edge pointy like the new Ford GT in order to create downforce rather than lift, etc? Thanks. Best regards, Orin Meyer