Sauber opens ultra-modern windtunnel.

A fresh breeze, in the literal sense of the word, is now blowing through the Hinwil premises of the Sauber-Petronas team, as the Swiss team was finally able to present its new, ultra-modern, windtunnel to the media.

Sauber's plans for building its own windtunnel date back to 1999, although construction only started on 14 January 2002. The technical equipment of the facility was finally completed last Friday and, following the completion of the calibration phase in February, the aerodynamics of the team's new C23 challenger will in a position for improvement ahead of the first European races.

"Aerodynamics is the primary factor affecting a modern Formula One car and, consequently, the wind tunnel is the primary tool for creating a successful racing car," team principal Peter Sauber said, explaining his decision to build the complex facility next door to the factory.

Sauber has invested roughly 70 million Swiss francs - approximately US$55m - in the project, marking it the largest ever in the company's history. And, after a long gestation period, the team is now at the point of systematically expanding the level of work performed in the tunnel.

"With the top teams having made enormous progress, particularly in this area, in recent years, we have a lot to catch up on," Sauber added.

The Sauber tunnel features the most advanced technology currently available. Taking into account factors such as wind speeds, the size of the test section and the models, the dimensions of the 'rolling road' and the 'model motion system', as well as data acquisition technology, the facility compares favourably with existing F1 wind tunnels.

The Sauber tunnel is of a closed-circuit design, and features 141 metres of steel tube to circulate the air necessary to its operation. A fan with a maximum power consumption of 3000kW enables wind speeds of up to 300kph to be reached, and the same velocity is achieved by the steel belt of the rolling road, simulating the relative motion between the car and the track surface. In order to simulate cornering or side-slip conditions up to a maximum angle of ten degrees, the entire rolling road platform can be rotated, while load cells underneath the steel belt enable constant measuring of wheel lift.

With a 15sq metre cross-section and a particularly long rolling road, the test section is unusually large, allowing road cars up to the medium size vans to be measured. In most cases, however, Sauber's engineers will be working with 60 per cent scale models, although certain measurements will be made on full-size Formula One cars. Contrary to most rival tunnels, however, the test section includes the option to perform tandem tests on two 60 per cent scale models to simulate air turbulences and slipstream conditions found in competition.

Indeed, the overall concept of the Sauber facility is based on a completely 'novel' approach. It combines the purposes of an industrial building with a hospitality section, which can be used by Sauber's partners and sponsors for exclusive special events. With a total length of 65 metres and a width of 50 metres, the building boasts impressive dimensions as well as appealing aesthetics, emphasised by the glass fa?ade.

Although presenting the exterior impression of a homogenous hall, the facility actually comprises two clearly separated elements - the wind tunnel hall itself and a multi-storey wing that accommodates work areas, a platform for special events and the Sauber museum. The two sections are separated by a glass wall that visually preserves the relation between them, while effectively keeping out the noise emanating from the tunnel.

"The new wind tunnel, in terms of its overall concept, is truly unique," Sauber concluded, "but it visibly documents our prime objective of continually improving the competitiveness of our team and of ensuring that Hinwil remains an attractive location over the long run."

Images of the new Sauber windtunnel can be found in the 'latest pictures' section of the Formula One channel on Crash.Net