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Old 10-30-2012, 01:05 PM   #9
DarkSunrise
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Draco-REX View Post
The big benefit from a low CG is less body roll in the corners. Because the car naturally has less roll, it requires less roll stiffness from the suspension. This leads to a better ride and more grip over uneven surfaces (street grip).

To put it more simply, you get less lean and better handling without having a jarring and bouncy suspension.

There are other less tangible benefits also. The lower CG reduces the car's tendency to "whiplash" when making quick course changes, increasing stability and hence safety. It also helps keep the car controllable when the rear breaks away. Better innate handling means less agressive alignments so tires can last longer. And a lower CG can reduce pitch (nose up/down) so braking is improved. So there are a lot of little benefits as well. A lower CG is always a good thing, just like lower weight benefits everything as well.
All the above is true. In addition, CG has a direct effect on lateral weight transfer (and therefore lateral grip).

WT = weight of car x acceleration x CG height / track.

In pretty much every racing sport, you'll see teams try to minimize CG for these reasons. For Formula 1 cars, for example, CG height is engineered to be as low as 10-11".
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