If you’re getting more drag than downforce and can’t seem to shave any time at the track, you may have the wrong wing on your car. A wing that isn’t designed properly can add drag, upset your car’s aero balance, and even fail at speed. See why cheaper wings often do more harm than good and how to find the right functional rear wing for your car.
Do Rear Wings Really Work? The Truth Is in the Engineering
A wing may look like it adds performance, but the truth is really in the engineering, not the appearance. The best wings will not only look good, but they’ll also perform. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Downforce Comes From Proper Airfoil Design
Verus Engineering's V2X dual-element wing, seen here on BBI Motorsport's 992 GT3, is designed for significant downforce.
The shape of the wing matters. Elements such as the camber (curvature of the wing), leading and trailing edges, thickness, and angle of attack create the pressure differential that generates downforce.
Cheap wings may copy the look of a functional airfoil, but without the engineering behind it. This can result in a wing shape that adds drag, reduces straight-line speed, and offers little benefit in corners.
Upright Strength and Mounting Matters
Properly engineered uprights and trunk mounts help rear wings deliver the performance gains you want.
A proper airfoil shape is critical, but the uprights and mounting matter as well. The wing has to be mounted and supported properly to deliver the performance gains you want. Weak, unengineered uprights and improper mounting positions may cause the wing to move or flex too much at speed. If the angle of attack is fluctuating dramatically, you won’t get the lower times you want.
Do trunk-mounted wings lose downforce due to deformation? We debunk the myth. Watch this video:
Aero Balance Is Key to Predictable Performance
Matching a WCW rear wing with a high-downforce front splitter gives this C8 Corvette Stingray the proper aero balance.
A functional wing is a great start, but if it creates aerodynamic imbalances between the front and rear, it’s doing more harm than good. You need your car to be predictable at speed, which requires proper balance. Imagine encountering sudden changes in grip mid-corner. This can make things challenging – and even unsafe – for the driver. In this instance, having no wing is actually better than one that throws off your car’s balance.
Cheaper Wings Can Create Safety Concerns
First and foremost, you want to be safe on the track and the street. In addition to throwing off your aero balance, a poorly designed wing may crack, shift, or even detach at speed. This can put you and others at risk.
How to Find the Best Functional Rear Wings
Toyota PE Motorsports' MKV Supra with our complete Ventus 5 kit. All components are CFD-validated and track-tested to ensure performance.
If you’re serious about lowering lap times, you need a functional rear wing, not a decorative one. In order to find the best fit, use the following checklist of questions:
Is there data showing downforce and drag?
Has the airfoil been validated in CFD or a wind tunnel?
Has the wing been tested on track?
Does the wing come with specially designed uprights and mounting systems?
Does the manufacturer address aero balance? Do they tell you what front modifications are needed?
Rear wings from Verus Engineering are backed by data and track-tested. We publish our results, so you have all the information you need to make a wise decision. Our engineers stress the importance of balance and recommend full aero kits to achieve it. We offer different packages within each platform to fit your experience and specific application.
Shop for Wings and Complete Aero Kits at Verus
Verus delivers performance and style with wings like this one on a Corvette C8 Stingray.
Verus Engineering wings are expertly designed, tested, and proven to perform. Check out our data and shop wings specifically designed for your model. Make sure to check out front aero components like our splitter kits to maintain balance and predictability.