Lotus' 'Ground Effect' Aerodynamics Changed Formula 1 Forever
Lotus revolutionized Formula 1 in 1976 with the introduction of the Lotus 78, which incorporated the concept of an inverted airplane wing to create "ground effects" and increase downforce. This technology was further developed in the Lotus 91, which was built from carbon fiber and Kevlar and included full-length ground effects. However, the technology was banned in 1983 due to safety concerns.