McLaren experiments with its diffuser

The McLaren team took to the track during testing in Jerez on this second day, while only one installation lap had been completed by Lewis Hamilton on Sunday.

The Woking team immediately captured the attention of the spectators on Monday morning with the launch of a new control device on the car’s rear diffuser.

Knowing that the rear diffuser plays an important role in the car’s grip, it is highly likely that the added element is used to measure the airflow at the rear of the car.

The results of this test will be of utmost importance for the development of the McLaren MP4-24, especially after the introduction of the new aerodynamic package in Barcelona last week.

This latter includes new triangular cutouts in the car’s floor specifically designed to assist in the diffusion of air at the rear of the car.

The broadcasters have recently drawn attention due to the new rules outlining the requirements for the 2009 season.

Two teams, Toyota and Williams, have already been authorized by the FIA to retain their diffusers. Doubts had been raised about their legality by Flavio Briatore. The BrawnGP team, for its part, has a radical diffuser at the rear of its BGP 001.