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Ferrari's controversial flat rear wheel covers have scooped the "Aerodynamic Breakthrough of the Year" title at the Professional MotorSport World Expo 2006 Awards, held in Köln, Germany at the weekend.

Raced within rules that ban flat wheel covers, Scuderia Ferrari’s carbon fibre 'hoops' were bonded to the wheel rim for streamlining. A less obvious early version was replaced at the Turkish Grand Prix by a bigger variant with an aperture just big enough to fit a wheel gun through. It was one of four nominees in the category, the others being the vertical nose fins developed by the BMW Sauber F1 team, which were subsequently banned on safety grounds; Ferrari's other controversial areodynamic aid last year, the 'flexible wings'; and the innovative front wing assembly used by the Williams F1 team. John Iley, the head of aerodynamics at the Ferrari Formula 1 team, commented on hearing of the award: “It is a good opportunity to express our sincere thanks for some recognition for the huge amount of aerodynamic development everyone in the Ferrari F1 Aerodynamics team made during 2006, of which the rear wheel covers were a small but very ‘high-profile’ part.”

The Professional MotorSport World Expo 2006 was a brand new international trade show designed specifically for motor sport professionals, teams, drivers and support crews. Professional MotorSport World Expo took place in Köln, Germany, on 8-10 November 2006. Entry was restricted to professional motor sports teams, drivers, sponsors and managers plus all motor sport license holders, motor sport engineers and team principals, equipment suppliers and race car support companies.

Raced within rules that ban flat wheel covers, Scuderia Ferrari’s carbon fibre 'hoops' were bonded to the wheel rim for streamlining. A less obvious early version was replaced at the Turkish Grand Prix by a bigger variant with an aperture just big enough to fit a wheel gun through. Above: Michael Schumacher during the Japanese Grand Prix.