Skid block

Racing car attachment Skid block of the Honda RC-F1 2.0X test car. A skid block, also known as a plank, is a common term for a mandatory attachment to the underside of a racing car. Initially applied to Formula One cars in 1994, it has also been used in other categories including Formula 3000 and Formula 3. It is a flat rectangle, usually made of fiberglass or a wood composite, designed to impose a minimum ground clearance and to regulate the use of ground effects to enhance handling. Specification According to Formula One regulations, a rectangular skid block must be fitted beneath the central plane of the car. This skid block may comprise up to three pieces but must: extend longitudinally from a point lying 330 mm behind the front wheel centre line to the centre line of the rear wheels, be made from a homogeneous material, have a width of 300 mm with a tolerance of ±2 mm, have a thickness of 10 mm with a tolerance of ±0.2 mm, have a uniform thickness when new, be fixed symmetrically about the centre line of the car in such a way that no air may pass between it and the surface formed by the parts lying on the reference plane. Typical construction The skid block was introduced in