Testing starts at new circuit

Press, 28 January 1982, Page 11

Testing starts at new circuit

The first stage of Europe’s most sophisticated new vehicle testing facility has just come into use in Warwickshire. Britain.

Run by the Motor Industry Research Association (M.1.R.A.). but funded by a SNZS.I6 million investment by the Dunlop Tyre group, the facility is due for completion in'l9B3. The development coincides with a resurgence in European vehicle and tyre designs. It is also geared to satisfying present as well as future E.E.C. legislation. Already completed is a sophisticated vehicle-hand-ling circuit which takes the form of an extended figure eight. It enables the accurate assessment of vehicle and component behaviour while vehicles are driven at high speed. The handling circuit also includes a chicane area and

a “wet" section for testing under lower friction conditions. M.I.R.A. is a consortium whose members are all connected with the automotive industry. They include car, truck and motor-cycle manufacturers as well as several component manufacturers. Under construction at present is a circular cornering track which will enable vehicles and components to be subjected to severe cornering forces in both wet and dry conditions and on various types of road surfaces.

The final stage of the project, which will start later this year, is a braking straight linked into the existing track, which will allow high-speed testing of tyres at different water depths. It will include a special facility to monitor the effect of aquaplaning.