The iconic Nardò test track in Italy reopens after an investment of Porsche

The iconic Nardò test track in Italy reopens after an investment of Porsche. The Stuttgart-based brand has announced the reopening of the Nardò Technical Centre in Italy, after a renovation that lasted seven months and a total investment of 35 million euros.

In addition to having its famous track updated, the renovated test ground has added an innovative guardrail system developed by Porsche Engineering specifically for the needs of high-speed testing on the track.

Malte Radmann, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nardò Technical Centre and General Manager of Porsche Engineering, has pointed out that “with the modernisation of the tracks, the strategic development of the Nardò Technical Centre is moving forward decisively”.

“This test ground has always been unique and it is now, more than ever, a cornerstone of Porsche‘s development strategy and of vehicle testing activities across the automotive industry in general,” Radmann added.

The Centro Sperimentale Nardò opens its doors once again

The Nardò Technical Centre, operated by Porsche since 2012, has more than 20 tracks and facilities across an area of more than 700 hectares. The centre was founded in 1975 and features an exclusive high-speed circular circuit of 12.6 kilometres and 4 kilometres in diameter, which allows vehicle testing under extreme conditions. The centrifugal force is offset by the banking, and it feels as if one is driving in a straight line even at speeds close to 240 km/h.

Antonio Gratis, General Manager of the Nardò Technical Centre, has stated that “the goal is for our customers to be able to test the mobility of the future“. The test facilities, which are used by 90 automotive companies among others, also offer the opportunity to test future technologies, such as the behaviour of fast charging of electric cars, new driver assistance systems, connected services and autonomous driving.

“Several extensions and renovations are already planned for the future,” Antonio Gratis added. “In addition, we want to promote the growth of the entire local ecosystem with further development.” The official inauguration took place a few days ago on the modernised tracks. They will be managed by the international engineering services provider Porsche Engineering, Wissach (Germany). In addition to the adaptation of the tracks and the installation of the new system for high-speed testing, the vehicle dynamics platform has been renovated, with an area of 106,000 square metres.

It is worth noting that the Nardò Technical Centre has more than 20 tracks and facilities that provide employment for more than 150 people. The Stuttgart-based brand has pointed out that another advantage of the centre is the unique climate of southern Italy, which is mild, with only a few rainy days and almost no frost. This means that testing at Nardò can be carried out throughout the year.

“With its wide variety of facilities, from dynamic surfaces to acoustic and off-road sections, combined with the numerous workshops, our customers can continue to make extensive use of Nardò for their vehicle testing in the future as well,” said Malte Radmann, CEO of Porsche Engineering, about the test ground in the Porsche Engineering Group.