Damage sensitivity(diveplane and louvre damage)

[chernaudi]

For anyone who paid attention to endurance races(especially Petit Le Mans), the fender louvres, on the Audi R8 especially, tended to become badly damaged by the end of the race due to tire pickup. This also happened with the R10, and almost all the other prototypes. I've heard that the R10's front fenders being more tightly fitted over the tires has lessend the damage done in longer races, but also contibuted to them becoming damaged in some sprint races.

What I'm trying to say is how badly does this effect the car's handling. I've heard that having holes in the top of the front fenders vents air out of the wheelwells, and on ground effect cars, it improves the functioning of the front diffuser. Appearently, the FIA and IMSA learned of this, and to counter this, the teams installed louvres in the fenders. This was done to get the bes of both worlds, more downforce from the louvres, and wheelwell ventilation. And diveplanes are also esily damaged.

In other words, how badly does this effect the car's handling? I know that this varies from car to car, but the R8 and R10 seem to go about their business with this damage as though nothing happend. Does anyone have an answer to this?