A highly engineered aerodynamic foil located at the front of an open-wheel race car or track vehicle. It creates negative lift to press the front tires into the track for steering grip, while simultaneously shaping the air wake to flow efficiently around the exposed front wheels and toward the floor and rear diffuser.
Heard on the job
He clipped the kerb too hard on turn three and completely shattered the right endplate of the front wing.
Related terms
Diffuser
An aerodynamic body panel at the rear of a car that increases downforce.
Spoiler
An aerodynamic device mounted on a vehicle body to disrupt unfavorable air movement and reduce drag or lift.
Whale tail
A massive, flat rear spoiler with raised rubber edges designed to generate aerodynamic downforce.