 Dive
planes would first be added to the GTP ZX-T at the Portland race in
1986. Developed in the wind tunnel, they were responsible for
adding an additional 440 lbs of downforce for merely 29 lbs. of
drag. But upon further investigation it was found that the flimsy
looking dive planes only generated 57 lbs of downforce in their own
right. But a vortex created by the dive planes had beneficial
interactions with airflow moving down the side of the car and was
responsible for 87% of the downforce created by the devices.
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The prominent vent aft of the front wheel helped draw high pressure air away
from the underfloor, increasing overall downforce and L/D. 