As slip angles are generated, the effective centre of the turn moves forwards in relation to the longitudinal axis of the car. Lateral and central forces act in the directions shown in the diagram. For simplicity tractive and drag forces are not shown.



The importance of the distinction between the collective central forces from all four tyres and the collective lateral forces can now be clearly seen. Confusion arises because a lateral accelerometer fitted close to the C of G will only rarely be recording the actual cars centripetal acceleration. It is still surprising how many race engineers and for that mater the vehicle dynamics programs that they use disregard this fundamental difference in the forces and vectors.

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