The
Eagle MkIII wasn't necessarily the first sports cars to utilize a front
underbody aero
concept designed to develop downforce. Even the very first
GTP cars were looking to take advantage of that area to generate
localized low pressure to
improve front balance. But this became a goal very early on in
the initial design studies for the MkIII, to exploit this area to
maximum advantage: 1. Develop a very narrow tub to maximize air passage between the front wheels
2. Build a front ground effect section in front of the front wheels similar to a standard front wing in plan view
3. Provide a large escape area behind the front wheels and out the side for the air to be exhausted from under the front ground effect section
4. Work to minimize deleterious effects of the front tires on this exhaust area...
And the AAR design team executed exactly along those lines. The MkIII was most definitely the first to take the front underfloor aero concept to the next step by intentionally exiting the airflow from the front diffuser out the side of the car and fully providing for as clear a path as possible, both into and exiting the diffuser, for the airflow.
The
diffuser forms extensions either side of the slightly raised tub. The spinning
action of the front wheel further draws airflow through the diffuser.
Here
we can see the extensions of the diffuser upsweep and their proximity
to the front wheel and suspension members. Leading edge sculpting
just behind the wheel encourages air to leave via that path.
In
this shot the front splitter has been removed (hence the daylight in
the top portion of the image). Here you just begin to get an
idea of the clear path the airflow has out the car via the outlet aft
of
the front wheel.