Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller's Ben Bode: From the Tunnel to Track – Inside Sports Car Aero and Secrets to Speed.

01/15/25 • 66 min

In this episode of the Breaking Bias podcast, hosts Dr. Obbs and Molly sit down with Ben Bode, team manager for the iconic Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller, to explore his journey in motorsports and the future of Corvette Racing in 2025.

Ben provides a deep dive into the world of endurance racing, discussing key engineering challenges and the balance between performance, aero, and aesthetics in car design. Highlights include:

The tech transfer from racing innovations to road cars.
The critical role of aerodynamic maps, including insights on splitters, diffusers, and vortices.
Navigating their entry into LMP2 racing, Pratt Millers return to prototype racing. How they're managing diverse teams, and optimizing car design for multiple drivers.

Ben shares advice on breaking into the industry and addressing the iterative process of developing and validating cutting-edge racing technologies.

Whether you're a motorsport enthusiast, aspiring engineer, or Corvette Racing fan, this episode is packed with insights into the complex world of endurance racing and car aerodynamics.
Find Pratt Miller

Instagram: @prattmillerms
Facebook: Pratt Miller Motorsports
X (formerly Twitter): @prattmillerms
Bluesky: @prattmillerms.bsky.social
Youtube: Pratt Miller Motorsports

00:00
Introduction
03:01
Ben Bode's Journey into Motorsports
05:53
The Future of Corvette Racing: 2025 and Beyond

09:00
Engineering Challenges in Endurance Racing

12:06
Balancing Performance and Aesthetics in Design

15:05
Tech Transfer: From Track to Road

17:54
Aerodynamics: The Importance of Splitters and Diffusers

21:14
Understanding Aerodynamic Maps and Performance

24:10
The Complexity of Racing Against Diverse Competitors

26:57
The Role of Diffusers in GT Racing

29:58
Vortices and Their Impact on Aerodynamics

33:34
Aerodynamic Development and Future Steps

36:09
Challenges of Regulation and Design

38:48
The Interconnectedness of Aerodynamics

40:54
Creating and Validating Aero Maps

46:17
Driver Preferences and Team Dynamics

51:40
Balancing Aerodynamics and Dynamic Control

55:55
Transitioning to LMP2 and Customer Racing

01:01:20
Advice for Aspiring Motorsport Professionals

https://twitter.com/BrakingBiasPod

Ben provides a deep dive into the world of endurance racing, discussing key engineering challenges and the balance between performance, aero, and aesthetics in car design. Highlights include:

The tech transfer from racing innovations to road cars.
The critical role of aerodynamic maps, including insights on splitters, diffusers, and vortices.
Navigating their entry into LMP2 racing, Pratt Millers return to prototype racing. How they're managing diverse teams, and optimizing car design for multiple drivers.

Ben shares advice on breaking into the industry and addressing the iterative process of developing and validating cutting-edge racing technologies.

Instagram: @prattmillerms
Facebook: Pratt Miller Motorsports
X (formerly Twitter): @prattmillerms
Bluesky: @prattmillerms.bsky.social
Youtube: Pratt Miller Motorsports

00:00
Introduction
03:01
Ben Bode's Journey into Motorsports
05:53
The Future of Corvette Racing: 2025 and Beyond

09:00
Engineering Challenges in Endurance Racing

12:06
Balancing Performance and Aesthetics in Design

15:05
Tech Transfer: From Track to Road

17:54
Aerodynamics: The Importance of Splitters and Diffusers

21:14
Understanding Aerodynamic Maps and Performance

24:10
The Complexity of Racing Against Diverse Competitors

26:57
The Role of Diffusers in GT Racing

29:58
Vortices and Their Impact on Aerodynamics

33:34
Aerodynamic Development and Future Steps

36:09
Challenges of Regulation and Design

38:48
The Interconnectedness of Aerodynamics

40:54
Creating and Validating Aero Maps

46:17
Driver Preferences and Team Dynamics

51:40
Balancing Aerodynamics and Dynamic Control

55:55
Transitioning to LMP2 and Customer Racing

01:01:20
Advice for Aspiring Motorsport Professionals

https://twitter.com/BrakingBiasPod

Previous Episode

Episode 17 - F1 from Vegas to Qatar: Max Verstappens not Mid, Lando's not so mellow yellow

Braking Bias is back which means, Molly and Dr. Obbs are back to dive into the thrilling Las Vegas Grand Prix and the chaotic Qatar Grand Prix! They cover key driver performances, technical challenges for teams like Red Bull and Mercedes, and the strategic experimentation happening ahead of the 2025 season. Is DAS back? Or is it simply an illusion? They touch on the interesting tire strategies, controversial F1 penalties, and the impact of recent stewarding decisions. They also discuss team dynamics, including McLaren's sprint weekend drama and Red Bull's polarized performance throughout the weekends

Key topics include:

Las Vegas GP highlights
Red Bull and Mercedes’ technical struggles
Tire management and race strategies
Sprint weekend chaos at Qatar
McLaren team dynamics and controversy
F1 penalties, stewarding decisions, and race control
Team strategies, including Checo’s mechanical failure
Red Bull’s inconsistent performance
Driver contracts and team success

00:00
Introduction

03:00
Las Vegas Grand Prix Experience

05:58
LVGP Qualifying Highlights and Driver Performances

08:58
Red Bull's Strategy and Technical Challenges

11:57
Mercedes' Tire Management

14:51
DAS is back?

23:00
Diving into Qatar: Sprint Weekend Insights

28:56
Team Dynamics: The McLaren Sprint Controversy

35:01
Experimentation in Sprint Races: A Strategic Approach

40:57
Regulations and Penalties: Understanding the Controversies

43:03
The Aftermath of Controversial Stewarding Decisions

45:56
Qualifying Strategies and Track Positioning

47:59
Understanding Tire Strategies and Performance

52:57
Debris on Track: Safety Concerns and Race Control

58:11
Penalties and Precedents: A Deep Dive into Race Rules

01:08:59
Analyzing Team Strategies at Vegas

01:10:31
Mechanical Failures and Checo's Incident

01:13:12
The Impact of Penalties on Driver Relationships

01:15:51
Driver Contracts and Team Dynamics

01:19:00
Tire Performance and Race Strategy

01:22:35
Ferrari's Future and Red Bull's Challenges

01:27:10
Red Bull's Performance and Team Dynamics

https://twitter.com/BrakingBiasPod

Next Episode

F1 Pre Season testing - Pour some FlowViz on Me

Breaking Bias Podcast: F1 2025 Season Preview – Testing Insights, Team Strategies & Predictions

In this episode of the Breaking Bias podcast, co-hosts Molly and Dr. Obbs dive deep into the 2025 Formula 1 season, analyzing key off-season developments, testing insights, and the evolving strategies of top teams. They break down the design changes made by Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, and more, exploring how these modifications could impact F1 car performance.

The conversation highlights the significance of pre-season testing in understanding car dynamics and the engineering approaches teams are adopting. Dr. Obbs and Molly discuss the critical role of driver feedback, the value of data analysis, and the overall importance of off-track development in the run-up to the season.

In this episode, they also explore specific team performance, touching on Ferrari’s long run issues, Williams' improvement potential, Alpine’s reliability concerns, and Mercedes’ low-speed instability. The hosts rank the top F1 teams based on their testing performance and development potential.

As the season approaches, Molly and Dr. Obbs shift focus to the midfield teams, particularly Williams and Racing Bulls, offering predictions for their performance. They dive into the ongoing flexi-wing drama, FIA rule changes, and aerodynamic strategies, giving listeners a comprehensive preview of what to expect.

The episode concludes with excitement and anticipation for the season ahead, discussing rookie drivers, team dynamics, and the uncertainty that drives the world of Formula 1 racing.

Keywords: Formula 1, F1 2025 season, Breaking Bias podcast, testing insights, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, off-season developments, car performance, team strategies, driver feedback, Williams, Racing Bulls, flexi-wing, FIA rule changes, aerodynamic strategies, rookie drivers, midfield teams, F1 predictions, F1 rankings.

https://twitter.com/BrakingBiasPod