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Dirty air

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What is dirty air?

Racing 101

What is dirty air?

By RACER Staff - Aug 28, 2026, 3:52 PM ET

Dirty air is the turbulent, disturbed airflow left behind a moving race car, and it's one of the most important (and frustrating) aerodynamic phenomena in motorsport. As a car moves through the air, its wings, floor, and bodywork are designed to manage smooth, ‘clean’ airflow to generate downforce efficiently. Once...

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