34 PROVING GROUNDS
Proving Grounds 2020
Test facilities around the world have been making impressive investments to help engineers
ensure that every type of vehicle and automotive technology is safe, durable and enjoyable
to operate. These are the latest developments that OEMs need to know about…
VehicleDynamicsInternational.com • May/June 2020
Renovated Nardò Technical Center
The iconic 12.6km (7.83 mile) circular track at Nardò Technical Center in
Italy has been renovated. The €35 million project took seven months to
complete and involved a complex asphalting process for the track, as well
as the installation of an innovative guardrail system, developed by Porsche
Engineering for high-speed testing activities. The works also include the
complete renovation of the 106,000m2 dynamic platform.
“This proving ground has always been one-of-a-kind and is now more
than ever a cornerstone of the Porsche development strategy and of the
vehicle testing activities in the automotive industry as a whole,” said Malte
Radmann, chairman of Nardò Technical Center and managing director of
Porsche Engineering.
Aston Martin moves into Silverstone
The vehicle dynamics team at Aston Martin Lagonda (AML) has
changed address to somewhere rather special: Silverstone. The
site, known as ‘the home of British motor racing’, will provide a
permanent base for the luxury carmaker’s test and development
programmes, as well as performance benchmarking, durability
testing and powertrain systems development.
Aston Martin’s engineers will have access to Silverstone’s choice
of circuits and dynamic handling areas for chassis dynamics work
and high-speed handling development. The site also boasts a stateof
the-art workshop with dedicated technicians on-site.
Aston Martin’s chief engineer for vehicle engineering, Matt Becker,
explains, “The new base at Silverstone will provide us with a
reference circuit upon which to develop the next generation of Aston
Martins. Silverstone is a fantastic place for us to practice the dark
art of vehicle dynamics, the fine tuning that takes place to turn a
good car into a great car. Our talented team of engineers and our
high-performance test drivers now have a racing circuit right outside
the door.”
A good example of the benefits of this convenience is ride tuning.
At present the team carries out ride tuning work in the UK and then
travels to circuits across Europe to evaluate high-speed ride,
handling and steering – work which can now be done on their
doorstep. Indeed most of Aston Martin’s ESP development can
now be moved from a test track in Europe, to its UK base.
/VehicleDynamicsInternational.com