F1 teams allowed to test at Windshear wind tunnel

Formula One’s regulating body, the FIA, announced that F1 teams will once again be allowed to test in full-scale wind tunnels including Windshear. The FIA had imposed a ban on full scale wind tunnel testing just over a year ago. Under that ban, teams were limited in the number of tests they could perform and in the scale of cars they could test.

Under the newly released rules, F1 teams will be allowed a maximum of six one-day aerodynamic tests carried out on either an FIA approved test track or at a full-scale wind tunnel test facility. The rule defines a day of wind tunnel testing as a single 24-hour period with four hours of wind-on testing.

Windshear stands to benefit from the new rules. Prior to the ban, Windshear conducted numerous full-scale tests for F1 teams. In fact, Windshear’s first commercial customer was an F1 team that visited Windshear in June 2008. After word about Windshear spread among F1 teams, several new customers signed-up and performed testing until stopped by the FIA in December 2008.

When asked about the effects of the new rules, Windshear Site Manager Jeff Bordner said that he and the Windshear staff are prepared to once again provide the same high quality, productive testing that Formula One teams received during 2008. He also said that he has been in contact with several F1 teams and negotiations are underway for testing early in 2010.

“We are delighted with the FIA’s decision. Our facility delivers highly accurate, repeatable data that is essential to F1 developers. Furthermore, we already have the advanced security and privacy systems in place to meet all Formula One’s requirements for highly confidential testing” said Jeffrey Bordner.

Windshear has implemented a security and privacy system that addresses all Formula One team’s requirements for highly secure and confidential testing. This same system is already in place and being utilized for NASCAR, IndyCar, ALMS, and production car customers. Electrical, restraint, and data systems have already been implemented for F1 and are ready for their return.

Windshear Inc. operates the world’s only 100% commercially available, full-scale, rolling-road wind tunnel.

Formula One has suffered from the global economic problems like most other industries. In December 2008, Honda dropped out of the series after many years of mediocre performance. Late in 2009, both Toyota and BMW announced they too would end their efforts in Formula One. Several new teams have signed up for the new season including USF1, Campos, Manor and Lotus. In November Mercedes Benz acquired Brawn GP, the team owned by Ross Brawn. Brawn had purchased the team from Honda in March of the same year.