Designing the Tunnel for Driving a Formula Car UPSIDE DOWN
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
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I’m going too drive a formula car upside down in a tunnel, for 5 seconds through downforce alone!
We’ve designed the car, so our next mission was to find somewhere to complete this groundbreaking stunt. But, where on earth do you do that?
We thought ‘surely there’s a tunnel somewhere in the world that could be hired for this insane challenge?’ Well, this was WAY harder than we thought.
So, let me explain the surprising reason why we actually ended up designing a tunnel OF OUR OWN!
Now, my first port of call was to find someone who knew LOADS about tunnels. So this is Andy Willis.A senior project manager in civil engineering and he’s in charge of our tunnel for Project Inversion. I set him off with the job of finding the right tunnel a couple of years ago, and it was difficult to say the least - this is how we developed a bespoke tunnel in order to make this incredible challenge possible.
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#F1UpsideDown #ProjectInversion #F1
Just make sure you seal any manhole covers on it before you drive over them!
I was just checking to see if anyone had said this before posting :D
I had to laugh at the coincidence of a video about racing being released today containing the sentence "race tracks don't deform"
I was about to make the same comment. Good thing I've checked first 😂
Haha relevant burn!
They always forget to remove stray ceiling lamps when I want to go and race the local parking garage ceilings.
He really did just explain the engineering behind making sure he doesn't get one shot in a crash. Not only did he play it off so well, he stayed in character while casually talking about his hypothetical demise lmaoo what a legend
What's your point here? Protecting the human life involved to the highest degree possible is basic engineering.
@@SmoothBaracuda🤓
@@SmoothBaracudaAt least you seem to be technical capable.
legend? he's ruining the environment to prove that a formula car can drive upside down which we already know it can (in theory), he is literally ruining the environment for views.. 🤮🤮
This is known as the myth that got away cause mythbusters wanted but couldnt. Im so impressed how comitted you guys are. This is awesome.
I mean, its not a "myth" though. Its 100% legit and backed by science. Its just not easy to actually do (as this video shows).
The downforce is 100% legit, the fact that you can drive upside down because such downforce might be magically constant and wheels won't slip is the myth part, that is not confirmed at all.
They should get in touch with Adam Savage! I think he'd love this.
It would be myth busted if they had done it. It really cannot be done. For a bunch of reasons. You cannot simply flip a car upside down just because it has a tiny little bit more downforce than its own weight. As we see here... To FORCE this to work, they have to change the car, the engine, the tunnel, and the surface. So in the end, you have changed every criteria and you are just not driving the same car upside down.
@@GeomancerHT Here's the fun part conceptually. If you turn a car that has enough downforce to push it into the ground twice or even 3x its own weight, do you know what you have developed once you turn it upside down? You've developed lift not downforce, and that effectively makes is hybrid between a car and a plane.
I just had to laugh when Scott said because of the concrete sleepers they'll leave no damage... as a commercial GC superintendent, I can promise there will be plenty of damage done while building this structure. The key is making sure you've got the budget to restore the area when you tear it down at the end of this project.
I’m not an expert like you, but when I heard him say that their structure won’t leave damage my first though was “they must be demented”.
@@mercoid Better place the whole thing on a train of barges and just cope with a bit of movement here and there.
Who is Will?. His Name is Scott.
Well minimal damaged would be a better phrase
That's a bit of an oof on my part... watching too many different videos lately haha@@MJTAUTOMOTIVE
This is just too cool. This video was way too short, I could easily watch an hour long deep dive into the making of the track and still want more 😁
hell yeah
There are several other parts on this project
@@MikeOnTrack I know I've seen them all. Wish the one on the car design was an hour long too. 😆
I know, this project has me glued. So much lore about this 'fact' and now we have someone suiting up to show how it's done.
there's an hour long podcast on the car build @@chrisoconnell8432
When this is done, don’t take the structure apart, cuz this really is a giant step for science. Gotta leave it there as an art piece celebrating this project.
This project it absolutely nuts, and I'm so glad you're showing us the progression.
Spoke to McMurtry last year at Silverstone, they said Travis Pastrana is already begging for a Spierling to do donuts on the ceiling of a multi storey carpark
Antigravitymkhana
No one cares
@@adamhousden6349 I do
@adamhousden6349 i do
@@adamhousden6349I do stop trying to be edgy
This has to be one of the coolest projects an automotive UA-camr has ever taken on
I for one, am watching this with great excitement and am loving what I'm learning.
I love these engineering related videos, would never imagine all the different problems that go into building this.
I'm expecting Colin Furze to try this in tunnel built of plywood and pallets, riding a step-thru moped powered by a few thousand fireworks, with downforce wings made from cut up oil drums.
This is one of the best things on UA-cam. It fills the stem need created by bloodhound delays in a really accessible way - awesome!
Thanks for all the content over the years, mate. It was nice knowing you!
I'm studying Motorsports Engineering @ OBU had a lecture from Willem Toet about this a couple days back!!! I'm excited to see the outcome
I am so incredibly excited about this. I can't wait to see you guys pull this off!!
I love your stuff mate but this is a whole new level of insane. Can’t wait to see where it goes!
The amount of pure science-ing this stunt took is absolutely lovely. Makes me giddy. 🎉🎉🎉
I gave up on Formula 1 in the late 90's as it was just a two hour precession
This is amazing!!!!
Saw a video from Driver61
Being in the constructional industries for much of my working life, I so enjoyed working with structural and civil engineers; such bright people.
Bro is so smooth with his Ad transitions
Wow. What a project. A showcase for ingenuity, engineering, risk management and bravery.
This is the most ambitious project I've ever seen. I'm so pleased Scott asked "But what if we actually make it happen"
Holy shit, I can’t believe you’re actually going to do this! I always just follow this channel for cool racing tips and info, but this is next fucking level man. I can’t wait to see it
Got a drinking game for everyone, take a shot every time Scott says "And that's a really important point!"
I’m hoping to see a air-bag deployment system for if the car experiences a problem and falls from the ceiling upside down. Something to cusion that blow.
I think a roll cage with material that would slide easy like nylon will be implemented.
@@kmyerslp85the car will have an F1 style halo, he said that in one of the first videos
Most effective way would be having padding over as much of the floor as possible already as that should have more cushioning than any airbag could do
I hope they simulate the crap of this and do some small scale models first because at full speed there is no airbag saving you from the crash and the fall... you better have some rockets ready for when the wheels slip a microsecond because that's all to kill the downforce and bye bye.
@connor1586 I think that would cause the car to dig in and start to tumble - that twisting motion would probably injure more than a fall from 7.5m in the air and then sliding
Plus, the aero is still going to be reducing the verricle speed that the car hits the ground at
RB would love to sponsor this. Actually this is a sponsor heaven. You shouldn't have much issues with the budget.
I love this dive into just how non-trivial the whole idea is.
I am so stoked for this stunt and my fav F1 yt guy driving the car is such icing on the cake!!
You are a legend already. But this is going into the BOOKS.
I really hope this hole project comes off, the video series so far is fantastic and the engineering and explanations are spot on 👌🏼
Best project ever to happen on youtube.
So many things to think about! thanks for sharing everything along the way, it's really interesting!
As the wood be runner if PERI branch and a longtime subscriber of this channel. The very first video I was like. I could do that with Vario-kit easy as. Dont work for PERI anymore but still in Temp works design. Glad to see some good kit being used for the tunnel. Best of luck gents, don't add any manhole covers 😂
This is completely nuts, and utterly pointless. Love it!
This project is outrageous, you are a mad man 😂😂😂😂
Absolutely love this project, thank you for sharing it
I can't believe a youtuber is Making this dream project come true
This is an idea I was working on back in the early '90s when I was an undergrad. I probably still have my notes and design specs tucked away in storage. Never had the money to pursue the idea beyond the design stage though.
To help with thermal movement you could heat the whole thing similar to a heated driveway to keep it a consistent temperature. Not sure if that’s possible with the budget though
Engineered wood and other natural products, from simple laminated joists/beams to modern plywoods and OSB and maby even more complex/ modern products (resin inpregnated natural fiber composites like Paperstone, some engineered or 'woven' bamboos, and so on) are amazing... and very ecologically friendly, from both an energy efficiency and carbon capture/ emission reduction standpoint. (Cost, too!)
I'm not suprised at all that natural materials were chosen for the running surface. I was suprised (pleasantly) by some of the other design elements, though.
This is an exciting, ambitious project... Cheers!
So cool!!! I wish you best of luck!! 🤜🤛. Heck. I’ll even pray for your success as well
Wood i porous so you want constant humidity and consistent temperatures. I would recommend someplace in the south where the days and nights are relatively the same and use a buttload of halogen lamps to keep the surface warm at night.
I've done it for paint jobs on yachts many times.
How about a flat floor that cork screws, no more radius issues for downforce
In my job, occasionally I tell people their idea is crazy. Then they say "I don't care, do it anyway" so basically we go through all this huge detail - the point being, that after 10, 20 or 30 hours of it, they understand just enough to realise that there was a good reason why it was crazy and agree that we're not doing it. I've never had anyone say "ah, build our own tunnel you say? OK." but I love it.
Ok, that transition into the sponcer segment was as smooth as the furture tunnel surface.
9:26 yeah he's talking about the length - not the girth as indicated by you repeatedly and dramatically stretching an image in only one axis and the wrong one at that.
It seems fitting since the structure is wanted for multi-use to build a section that makes room for corkscrewing so that more people can use this for stunts. Plus, if designed just right, could be exceptionally beautiful.
Redbull, give this man some money.
Don't know what pressure a sponsorship from RB would add, in terms of deadlines, risks to safety etc. There may be two sides to those coins.
@@MeriaDuck lol no
One of the few things nobody has done yet. For sure you're going to pull this off!
Thank you for this I needed something to distract me from the absolute destruction of what used to me my favourite sport, formula one, this weekend
What about Volkswagen Test Track (Ehra-Lessien)?
I think 4 wheel steering may help with minimizing the change in ride height while moving up the side
Absolutely
Thats a good idea, i doubt the advantage would offset the added weight though..
Nice to know I am not the only one that thinks about making one of those
I submitted this idea to Mythbusters ages ago. I can't wait to see it, be safe 🙏
You have total respect and support from me 🌞
Hey guys first of all mad respect and support to your project.I just had a brainstorm about the engine that what if you make the engine in such a way that it stays upright at all times like those hubs on wheel covers that stay upright even when the wheel spins. i know its a long shot and i maybe wrong completely but it was just a random idea.
This is the myth I hoped mythbusters would tackle on.. looking forward to see you do it!
This is not a myth. This is based on solid science and engineering. An F1 car generates enough downforce allowing it to be driven upside down.
Make sure you have something to say before you take off. This will go down in the records, along with your radio, regardless of outcome. Just trying is insane. Wishing you ALL the luck.
I kept hearing about how F1 cars could actually drive upside down and I kept writing to Mythbusters to attempt it that was 25 years ago. Cool!
Who's here in 2024 wondering what is the latest on this project?
This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. Hope you succeed!
Just a heads up that currently the link for the form is not working. Great video and I'm excited to see this project come to life!
Looks like Trackmania is hacking base reality… I love it! 🚀
Cant wait to see the outcome.
Two questions:
1. Could you build the tunnel part underground, in an open trench, only using the constructed tunnel for the upside down bit? Would be cheaper.
2. Could you bend the tunnel during acceleration and deceleration phases to make use of inertia to help the car stick to the walls?
Something that could be used for fundraising is to maybe sell little squares of the plywood sheets used for the road surface. Like after the whole stunt is done just cut up the plywood into smaller sections like maybe square foot sections and sell them. I could see tons of people willing to pay a reasonable price for a section and it could at least offset the cost of the whole project by a decent amount.
i cannot wait to see the result!
the link in the description for motorsport careers is unfortunately not working
Take note of what happend in Vagas with the sainz
Your plywood might have forced pulling it out of how it was put onto the structure. Definitely test it as a flat service first try to get max down force and then also turn and stop over joins.
It's the ground effect suction that caused the issue at Vegas. He can just use conventional aero like those on F1 cars from the mid 80s until 2021. Cheaper to build too
@@chumleyk Harder to get the low speed downforce at 2x mass they're looking for without ground effect and without a ground effect fan. Just going for an F1 fan car inspired design would make this all so much easier. And there is a road car coming to market with 2 ton of static fan downforce, in a 1 ton vehicle. All the McMurtry Speirling needs is padded forklift to place it on the ceiling. Driver could strap in before rolled over as well.
@@chumleykthere's always been some under body downforce on F1 cars.
There was an accident at Monaco from an incorrectly welded manhole cover sometime in the last twenty years.
I can't quite remember when and I can't be bothered to look it up
if you are makeing your own tunnel then you dont have to mess with the issues that come with a diameter at all. you can make a perfectly flat (side to side) road that twists, like banking on an oval but just keep going, or like hotwheels track. this design will allow you to use proper ground effect, car can be set up more normal, steering will work correctly, dosent need to be so tall so less temporary structure to rent and quicker to put up may not even need a expencive crane rental because a telehandeler can do the job.
finaly the construction workers dont have to deal with so mutch curve and can screw flat plywood to straight bars leaving no gap instead of trying to wedge it into a curve where a gap is unavoidable.
only downside is that you cant back out early, and you have to go completely upside down on the first try.
Should give Red Bull a call, they love sponsoring stuff like this, and know a little something about Formula level cars 😂
It might be more costly but you could consider a composite decking structure made of layered fiberglass with carbon fiber or aramid to improve penetration resistance, maybe even combined with a plywood or sheet metal layer. You could lay up the big panels in-situ like you would the plywood, with a big jig. You don't need an optimally-cured structure either if you just add more layers/thickness to improve the strength even with higher void content, allowing you to keep the in-situ lay-up really lightweight in terms of operations and allowance for temperature and humidity variation. The best people to talk to about this are probably boat builders and airframers. Oh, and you could make life easier if you coat the whole thing in that sticky grippy asphault stuff they use for drag racing (yes that would kind of be cheating, but you will need something to ensure good grip)
Why not use some sort of ceiling then built the ramp up and down?
When this is successful, as i know it will be, please enclose the "tube" and make the whole 360, even several loops...can't wait to see!!!
I am sure he must’ve looked at doing it, as there was already a stunt by Schumacher(?) To do that 360 before. But I reckon it would add costs as you have to support the tunnel on both sides from one end to other, and in case of unfortunate fly out it's safer to fly out in air and hope you turn back before touching the ground than hitting other section of a solid metal structure. I think that’s the reason they put some exit angle at the top of the tube to help rotate the car
or lift it vertically and go up 😮 ❤😂
im not a civil engineer but the technical detail behind the ramp/tunnel is fascinating
That's quite a case of TUNNEL VISION you've got there! 😂
(I'm here all week. Try the veal and don't forget to tip your server)
Saw a yt video the other day where a guy did this in a video game. It did not work when he did it your way…but it did work when he built a traditional loop but at the top lo of the loop the track went flat.
You should practice it in simulator as well
I love this. I hope a bovine themed energy drink company wants to give you lots of money for sponsorship
The Bloodhound LSR team, which aims to break the world land speed record, decided to build its own bespoke tunnel after finding it difficult to find a suitable tunnel to drive an F1 car upside down for five seconds through downforce alone. Traditional tunnels, such as those being built for infrastructure projects or those currently in use, have problems, such as flat bottoms or uneven surfaces. Those not being used would require remedial work and modifications to create a smooth surface and meet the team's requirements. The team needed to be able to control the environment as much as possible to ensure the car's downforce remained consistent and reduce the risk of the car crashing. The team worked with a senior project manager in civil engineering and an aerodynamicist to determine the best dimensions for the tunnel. They decided on a 7.5m diameter, which would keep the gap between the car and the ground as small as possible, leading to more downforce and less ride height change. The structural engineering company Expedition Engineering was then brought in to design the tunnel in detail.
I'm so in for this!
BEST THING EVEEEERRRRR!!!!!!
I think at the end of the day physics will decide. Good luck if you give it a go. Aussies will cheer you on. 😊
I'm 100% sure I've seen this project on UA-cam somewhere before. But I wished you luck.
Are you going to publish cost estimates for building the "tunnel"?
I’d love to know what the total cost ends up being, I’d imagine the tunnel alone is a coupe million
@@_F_rog If they can do 700 meter long steel structure with safety critical parts for only a couple of million, that's cheap!
I'm looking forward to this episode of Well There's Your Problem
You're playing real life PolyBridge and I'm here for it.
Is there a way to test the structure first with a fan car then do the proper run with just passive aero?
If they're making a custom tunnel anyway, just make the driving path flat the whole time, kinda like a corkscrew path for the car to follow.
I wonder if building the tunnel to have a slight curve might help you out. On the one hand, it would allow the centripital force to push the car into the tunnel during the turn, which would help. At the same time, it would add yet another dimension for the car's undercarriage to deal with, suspension-wise. Just a thought.
Make this happen please.. Iv been woundering about this for years
If you go through with this youre gonna enter the hall of fame
this video series is hype as heck
man this looks expensive, but being instantly propelled the status of absolute legend if you pull it off seems worth it
how do you prepare for the experience of driving this? do you have a simulator than turns you around?
look at eric prydz tunnel this is exactly what you need 😄
(just a little bit small, seems like a pedestrian one).
Hey Nigel, why don't you simply put a redundant F1 car on a flat plane, mount this plane on a rotisserie, then put the entire ensemble in a wind tunnel capable of say 300km/h winds? You could fit pressure sensors under the wheels for a couple of trial inverts before hopping in the cockpit yourself. Thinking outside the box here, but keeping things safe and controlled. No issues with oil, bumps, blowouts!
One RedBull call a day keeps budget problems away
I've lost count of the times I've been told by self appointed experts that "an f1 car can drive upside down" I just direct them straight to these videos that there's a lot more to it. I'm really interested to see this