Many America’s Cup teams get access to cutting-edge technology via sponsors. Team Shosholoza, for example, recently got access to Germany’s third most powerful computer thanks to its sponsor T-Systems, which is owned by Deutsche Telekom. The South African team used the computer for design work and weather modelling. Similarly, the keel of France’s Areva Challenge yacht was assembled in one of the DCNS factories used to build France’s nuclear submarines.
However, technological benefits can flow in the opposite direction. For example, a carbon fibre modelling technique was recently transferred from the BMW Oracle Racing team in yachting to the BMW Sauber racing team in Formula One.
Thomas Hahn, the structural engineer behind the idea, explains that running computer models of carbon fibre structures (in an effort to optimise designs) can be very time-consuming and labour intensive. This is because the structures consist of 4,000-5,000 layers of fibres, every one of which needs to be included in the simulations.
So, Mr Hahn and his colleagues developed a software programme capable of incorporating these multi-layered fibre “mats” into new models automatically. “We now have a nice, sleek process where we can do a lot of modifications very quickly,” he says. “Basically, we let the computer do the work.”
Since the Formula One cars driven by Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica also have carbon-fibre chassis, it occurred to Mr Hahn that the idea might have broader applications.
“It was a surprise to me that the first contact between BMW Oracle Racing and the BMW Sauber F1 team was not to ask for support, but to offer something,” says Mario Theissen, motor sport director at BMW. “This software is being used now in the design of the F1 chassis as well.”
Mr Hahn is now assessing whether the way BMW Oracle teams organise themselves to address certain tasks could help BMW as a whole. For example, they could help reduce the number of prototypes the carmaker constructs – a potential route to significant savings.
“Nowadays, you are talking roughly 70-100 prototype cars in four stages,” he says. “If you could get that down to two stages in some cases… you are going to really gain something. These prototypes are pretty expensive. The costliest can reach roughly €1m because they are built by hand.”
Mr Hahn says he does not expect the example set by the America’s Cup team to inspire something major, such as a new vehicle model.However, he adds,“there are certain areas in which I think BMW Oracle works very efficiently. We ought to look at that and see if it might suit [the rest of the company].”
David Owen is the FT’s former sports editor
