The Nardò Technical Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The world's only high-speed circular track with a length of 12.6 kilometers was designed to improve research and development processes by testing vehicles under extreme conditions.
In the hands of Porsche for 3 years
Since 2012, the automobile proving ground has been operated by Porsche Engineering Group GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, and with more than 20 test tracks and testing facilities on an area of more than 700 hectares, it offers opportunities for all conceivable testing stages.
"The Nardò Technical Center is the ideal complement to our testing and research facilities at the Weissach Development Center. And with the great advantage that we can test our sports cars 365 days a year in Nardò thanks to the mild climate," says Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG. "These unique conditions represent a valuable resource for efficient vehicle testing for the entire automotive industry."
Extensive future plans for the expansion of the proving ground
"The full range of testing services is already available to our customers at the proving ground," says Malte Radmann, CEO of the Porsche Engineering Group. "But that's not all: there are extensive plans for expansion and innovations in the coming years to meet the development requirements of the future."
The idea of the test center as the "Società Autopiste Sperimentale Nardò" (Nardò Automobile Test Track Society) was turned into reality by Fiat in 1975. At this time, the circuit with tracks for cars and trucks as well as a dynamic area for passenger cars existed. Seven years later, a dynamic area for trucks was added.
Seclusion and strict secrecy precautions
In 1999, the Italian Prototipo Group takes over the testing and proving grounds and expands Nardò by a total of 5,000 square meters of new workshop and office space to accommodate the growing number of customers. Test tracks for testing ride comfort and noise development followed in 2002 and 2008, as well as a 6.2-kilometer-long handling track based on individual bends of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. In May 2012, the Porsche Engineering Group takes over responsibility for the test area.
Nardò also enjoys its legendary reputation due to its remoteness and strict secrecy precautions. The virtually unlimited and efficient testing possibilities are crucial for car manufacturers. Within just a few weeks, for example, it is possible to make statements about corrosion resistance over the entire life cycle of a vehicle or to simulate the climatic conditions of different countries and regions - whether it is an African off-road track or a rainy road surface in the sunshine. In addition, time-consuming delivery routes and high transportation costs are avoided, as the high diversity of the test tracks enables developers to carry out a wide range of tests at one and the same location.
Fastest automobile circuit in the world
The Nardò Technical Center has also made history on the ring track, which, with a diameter of four kilometers and a track length of 12.6 kilometers, is still considered the fastest automobile circuit in the world. It forms the basis for numerous records set by various car manufacturers.
Mercedes-Benz made the start with the C111-IV, which broke the 400 km/h barrier for the first time in 1979 with a speed of exactly 403.978 km/h.
The ARVW (Aerodynamik Research Volkswagen) sets six class records and two world speed records on the track in Nardò in 1980.
Porsche sets a 24-hour record with a 928 S in 1982. The then revolutionary Porsche with front engine and manual transmission on the rear axle covered 6,033 kilometers at an average speed of 251.4 km/h. More than ten years later, Porsche provided impressive proof of the transaxle design: With a standard Porsche 928 GTS, an Austrian private team covered 6,377.25 kilometers in 24 hours in Nardò in 1993 and achieved an average speed of 265.72 km/h.
This record was not beaten until 2002 by the Volkswagen "W12 Nardò" concept car, which still holds a total of seven world records today, including the 24-hour distance and speed record of 7,740.576 kilometers at an average speed of 322.891 km/h.
