Lotus/Renault has developed a reactive ride height system that the FIA has approved for use in 2012. The FIA says it meets the current regulations, so the other teams...besides Ferrari which has already submitted it's plan for the same system to the FIA for examination...will be scrambling it seems.

Lotus Reactive Ride height System

Maybe a podium early for everyone's favorite intoxicated Finn?

Nice find Steve. I have to say I am surprised as it seems to me that it's active suspension under another name. I dont think there will be much chance of it getting banned either as Ferrarri seem to have a similar system under developement. I hope the rest of the teams can come up with something before the season starts otherwise we could have a two horse race for the constructors championship.

Oh, the rest of them...at least Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, Sauber, Torro Rossa and probably Sahara Force India and Williams...will have it sometime during the testing period/season I'd bet. Maybe not in time for the first winter test, as it looks like the plans for it might have to pass FIA inspection beforehand..but, they'll have it eventually.

Ferrari still says they're waiting for final approval on the system from the FIA before adapting it to their 2012 car, but the FIA's already stated it was within the regulations.

It'll be the minnows that suffer the most..hell, Virgin still isn't going to have KERS in 2012.

seems like it will be a talking point of the season (at least first part of it)

here interesting post on subject from autosport.com forum

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=159666&view=findpost&p=5477280


post #134

Damn Virging still no KERS :/ getting left behind that lot are!

There may be more to this before it's all said and done.

Redbull says they're not going to be quick to jump at this and Mark Gillan of Williams seems to think that the FIA is "aiming to ban" this new reactive braking system. Only seen Gillan's comments from one source (Peter Windsor of Speed), so maybe they'll be more info soon as the testing season starts in about 2.5 to 3 weeks.

Edit - The FIA has banned the new reactive ride system developed by Lotus, found it to be in violation of Article 3.15 of the sport's Technical Regulations which cover moveable aero devices.

Typical FIA farce again...

You would think that something the FIA's been looking into the legality of since January 2011 and actually told the team that it was legal would be able to come to an decision and stick with it.

I have a funny feeling someone didn't like it that little device on their (his) cars....and I'm not talking about Ferrari either.

Herr Doktor Purple Helmet Marko, perhaps?

Well, of the two "big fish" left that weren't publically working on such a system, only one stated "Things have to work as a package rather than as individual components." Same one that wasn't really concerned about having a working KERS on their cars at times it seems.

I hope the FIA takes as good a look at their front wing this year as they did this reactive braking system.