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F1: Sahara Force India turns to Toyota for wind tunnel

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Sahara Force India is the latest F1 team turning to Toyota's state-of-the-art wind tunnel in Cologne.

It emerged in Singapore recently that Caterham is developing its 2015 car in the Cologne tunnel.

Previously, Ferrari relied heavily on the Toyota facilities amid its troubles with its own tunnel at Maranello.

"We haven't used the one in Cologne for really quite some time," said technical boss James Allison recently.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport also reports that, with McLaren leasing wind tunnel time to Marussia, the Woking based team also uses the Toyota facility.

F1 Toyota wind tunnel
Toyota wind tunnel facilities. (Photo: TMG)

And Sahara Force India is now beginning to turn to Toyota.

"Our wind tunnel was originally built for 30 per cent models," said technical boss Andy Green, "so we don't have enough room around the 50 per cent model."

From next year, a new cost cutting measure is that each team can only use one wind tunnel per season, so Sahara Force India has nominated Cologne.

The report said Toyota charges about EUR 100,000 a week for the privilege.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
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  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada