LEGENDARY FORMULA 1 ENGINEER PETER WRIGHT HAS PASSED AWAY AT 79
The world of Formula 1 is mourning the death of Peter Wright, the British engineer whose ideas changed the sport forever.
Wright, best known for creating ground effect aerodynamics and the famous Lotus 79, has died at 79 years old. His passing marks the loss of one of racing’s most creative and influential engineers.
Wright’s impact on F1 is huge. He studied thermodynamics and aerodynamics at Cambridge University and began working in motorsport in the late 1960s at BRM with Tony Rudd.
During his time there, he explored early ideas about using the shape of a car to create downforce, what later became known as the “wing car” concept. These first experiments were basic, but they set the stage for the work that would define his career.
He later joined Technocraft, part of Group Lotus, and once again worked with Rudd. Together they formed a small research team aimed at exploring new racing technologies.
Wright and the team developed the idea of ground effect aerodynamics, using the airflow under the car to produce strong downforce without increasing drag. This led to the creation of the Lotus 79, which dominated the 1978 season and helped Mario Andretti win the World Championship. It also returned Lotus to the top of Formula 1.
After Lotus closed in 1994, Wright joined the FIA. There, he helped create important safety and technical rules that shaped modern motorsport.
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