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DYNAMICA, WORLD CHAMPIONS PAROLIN RACING FAIRINGS FOR KARTS

Max Bernardi

15 November 2018

Parolin Racing Kart has invested heavily in aerodynamic research applied to the development of a fairings kit for the Eurostar Dynamica kart. This is an effort that has been amply repaid, already in the first year of use, by winning the OK class World Championship

Parolin Racing is one of the few companies in karting who, instead of using third-party manufacturers, personally manages the customised design, development and manufacturing of bodyworks. The advantage of doing everything "in house" is that, being the company that also manufactures the chassis, it is fully aware of the optimal characteristics their fairings must have to define, down to the smallest detail, vehicles of the highest level. With the previous Agile bodyworks kit, Parolin Racing Kart also stood out because of the lightness of its plastics. Now, with the new Eurostar Dynamica kit (Eurostar is the Parolin Racing Kart accessory brand), they have focused on aerodynamics, with studies, drawings and tests in a wind tunnel that have defined the new shape of the front fairing and front spoiler

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

As mentioned, the main guideline in the design of the Dynamica kit was the search for the kart’s best aerodynamic penetration. Obviously, it was measured with a driver on board. To solve the various problems that arise in such a complex field, Parolin Racing Kart directly managed the design and development of the new bodyworks, both for the CFD software specifications and the tests carried out in a wind tunnel.

FRONT FAIRING

The front fairing is bigger than the previous Agile model. The decision was taken to increase the aerodynamic load at the front, an important factor on fast bends. The new Dynamica front fairing gives a net increase in the "downforce" (the force generated in an orthogonal direction compared to the kart) and increases the front grip of the kart. Furthermore, the bigger size protects the area of the feet and pedals from the impact of air flow. In relation to the shape, the roundness directs air flow towards the front spoiler and sides, while the lowering of the shape of the front fairing on the sides has been designed to channel more linear air flows towards the important areas of the kart, thereby improving its performance: on the right side the shape of the spoiler is lowered to allow air to enter the kart’s engine, while on the left side it instead aids the impact with the radiator and braking system. A careful study was also carried out on the flexibility of the plastic: the Dynamica front fairing absorbs blows very well, protecting the driver in the event of frontal impacts, fully responding to the parameters of severe crash tests imposed by the Federation.

The aerodynamic developments of the new Eurostar Dynamica bodyworks kit focused on the front fairing and front spoiler

FRONT PANEL

Without a doubt, the new front panel is the main change in the Dynamica kit. Its shape does not go unnoticed, also because the round shape is truly innovative for karting bodies, different from everything seen in the past. As pointed out by Marco Parolin, son of the owner Albino and the company’s Marketing Manager: "The main objective is to optimise the flow of air against the fuel tank and the driver's legs, while decreasing direct flow against the helmet". In order to determine the right shape to achieve this result, Parolin Racing Kart used a wind tunnel, as it did for the front fairing. The lowering of aerodynamic resistance, i.e. the "Drag", has resulted in an improvement to the penetration of the kart and driver: the front spoiler moves the air flow to the left and right, decreasing turbulence that, with a smaller front panel, is caused by the impact of the air against the driver's body. Finally, the final part facing the driver forms a curve designed to direct the flow towards the upper area of the helmet.

In the final part, facing the driver, the front fairing is curved, thereby avoiding the direct impact of air flows against the driver’s head

The new Dynamica front fairing has a 3 mm thick curved shape

SIDE PODS

The side pods are the same as the Agile kit: the checks carried out in the wind tunnel confirmed the performance of the shape. Furthermore, work was done to make it lighter, which proved decisive in achieving a weight of 620 grams: the lightest fairing among the various kits on the market. This is a result that should not be underestimated, especially in the OK and KZ classes, where the regulation imposes a very low minimum weight. Finally, the double face shape that allows assembly of the side pods indifferently on the right or left has to be emphasised: a significant benefit since it reduces stocks, both for the company and retailers.

The side fairings of the Dynamica kit made by Parolin Racing stand out because of their weight: only 620 grams

RESULTS

As we have seen, on paper the Eurostar Dynamica kit designed by Parolin Racing kart gives numerous benefits: reducing the impact of the air towards the driver: improving the air flows towards the engine, radiator and braking system; increasing the front load of the kart ... All features that, from the projects and tests in the wind tunnel, have been confirmed as winning solutions on the track, which at the end of the day is the only thing that matters: in the year of its debut, the Dynamica kit can already boast a title of World Champion in the OK class, achieved by the driver Lorenzo Travisanutto and the Kart Republic chassis. On the other hand, In the OKJ class the official Parolin driver, Gabriele Minì, became Vice World Champion.

Lorenzo Travisanutto, OK world champion with an KR kart equipped with Dynamica bodywork (photo CIK-FIA/KSP)

The Parolin kart, with Dynamica bodywork, of the official driver Gabriele Minì, OKJ vice world champion (photo KSP)