Composite design on the F1 grid

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 8, 2008

The ING Renault F1 Team used Vistagy's FiberSim software to design and manufacture all the composite parts of its new car, including the chassis, roll hoops and wings.

Vistagy has renewed its status as an official supplier of specialised software to the ING Renault F1 Team, and joined team officials in Paris, France for the exciting launch of the brand new R28 racing car for the 2008 Formula One season.

Team engineers used Vistagy's FiberSim software to design and manufacture all the composite parts of the car including the chassis, roll hoops and wings.

ING Renault F1 Team engineers face enormous pressure each year to meet challenging deadlines for developing its racing cars.

Each season, the Team is required to completely design, analyse, manufacture and test its cars in fewer than 180 days or risk stringent FIA penalties, or worse, the loss of an entire racing season.

As a result, the Team constantly looks to reduce engineering cycle times and eliminate errors in design and manufacturing in order to refine the final products and meet all delivery deadlines.

This is ING Renault F1 Team's sixth season using Vistagy's FiberSim software to develop complex composite parts for its cars.

The combination of software and professional services from Vistagy has enabled the Team to reduce ply lay-up time by up to 62%, ensuring consistency between parts, optimal performance and on-time delivery.

"We have enjoyed a fruitful technical partnership with Vistagy for several years, during which the free exchange of information and expertise has dramatically improved both our racing cars and their FiberSim software", says Bob Bell, Technical Director for ING Renault F1 Team.

"Vistagy was an integral partner in helping us achieve our back-to-back FIA Formula One Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships in 2005 and 2006, and we continue to work closely with them to streamline our composites development process and optimise the use of their software".

"With the new R28 car and the excitement surrounding our drivers, we expect new levels of success in the coming 2008 season".

"We look forward to strengthening our already solid relationship with ING Renault F1 Team and finding additional ways to improve efficiency and innovation in the factory to achieve a competitive advantage on the racing circuit", says Steven C Luby, President and CEO of Vistagy.

"Together we have turned productivity into creativity".

"By providing Renault F1 Team with the software and services to improve their composites design and manufacturing process, they have been able to perform more iterations of their designs, resulting in optimised parts".

"This is how true innovation is born and how winning results are achieved".

"We are proud to stand behind ING Renault F1 Team in their pursuit of the Formula One World Championships again this year".

Executives from Vistagy were pleased to join ING Renault F1 for the unveiling of the new R28 racing car in an official launch event held in Paris, France on 31st January 2008.

The Team begins its quest for the FIA Formula One World Championships at the Australian Grand Prix on 16th March in Melbourne.