Ferrari Conducting Final Tests of New Wind Tunnel

FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
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has spent over a year building a new, full-scale wind tunnel to improve its F1 technology, and the time and money that it has taken is finally coming to fruition since opening last month.

"We have been back in there for a few weeks. It's being 100 per cent used now, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the normal thing. It is reasonable although it takes time for you realize how good a tool is,” said Scuderia Ferrari Technical Director Pat Fry.

Ferrari is still conducting final tests of the wind tunnel by testing identical parts in the new wind tunnel and Toyota Motorsports’ToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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wind tunnel to make sure that the results are the same.

In the 2012 season, Ferrari’s wind tunnel could only support scale models of parts, and the team found that results from scale testing did not match when the parts were made in full size.

While the new wind tunnel was being built, Ferrari leased Toyota Motorsports’ wind tunnel in Cologne, Germany, which meant that parts had to be shipped back and forth from Maranello for testing.

"Aero still remains a very dominant factor next year as well.

"It is still going to be very important although the balance towards engines is higher than it currently is, especially as you have to get it right at the start,” said Fry.

Source: Autosport