Automotive

Porsche's circular 7.8 mile Nardò test track reopens

Porsche's circular 7.8 mile Nardò test track reopens
Nardò is one of the few test tracks in the world suitable for extreme speeds, with the outer lane suitable for speeds of 240 km/h with no steering input required due to the camber
Nardò is one of the few test tracks in the world suitable for extreme speeds, with the outer lane suitable for speeds of 240 km/h with no steering input required due to the camber
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The Nardò facility was opened in 1975, and has been used by almost 100 different automotive companies during its 44 years
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The Nardò facility was opened in 1975, and has been used by almost 100 different automotive companies during its 44 years
Nardò is one of the few test tracks in the world suitable for extreme speeds, with the outer lane suitable for speeds of 240 km/h with no steering input required due to the camber
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Nardò is one of the few test tracks in the world suitable for extreme speeds, with the outer lane suitable for speeds of 240 km/h with no steering input required due to the camber
The inner lane at Nardò is designed for speeds up to 130 km/h with no steering input required, and the speeds increase to 170 km/h, 210 km/h and 240 km/h respectively in each lane as the camber increases
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The inner lane at Nardò is designed for speeds up to 130 km/h with no steering input required, and the speeds increase to 170 km/h, 210 km/h and 240 km/h respectively in each lane as the camber increases
The Nardò Technical Center is vast and covers more than 700 hectares, with more then 20 different test tracks inside the perfectly circular 12.6 km (7.8 mile) circular test track
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The Nardò Technical Center is vast and covers more than 700 hectares, with more then 20 different test tracks inside the perfectly circular 12.6 km (7.8 mile) circular test track
Nardò was the first circuit in the world to be lapped at over 400 km/h in 1979. On May 5, 1979, a Mercedes-Benz C111-IV powered by a 368 kW/500 hp, 4.5 liter V8, lapped the 12.6 km (7.8 mile) circuit in 1 minute and 57 seconds, averaging 403.978 km/h.
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Nardò was the first circuit in the world to be lapped at over 400 km/h in 1979. On May 5, 1979, a Mercedes-Benz C111-IV powered by a 368 kW/500 hp, 4.5 liter V8, lapped the 12.6 km (7.8 mile) circuit in 1 minute and 57 seconds, averaging 403.978 km/h.
Mercedes-Benz launched the 190 E 2.3-16 at Nardò by setting several world long-distance records over 25,000 kilometers, 25,000 miles, and 50,000 kilometers, averaging almost 250 km/h
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Mercedes-Benz launched the 190 E 2.3-16 at Nardò by setting several world long-distance records over 25,000 kilometers, 25,000 miles, and 50,000 kilometers, averaging almost 250 km/h
In 1980 a Volkswagen ARVW set the speed record for a diesel car at Nardò, reaching a speed of 362.07 km/h
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In 1980 a Volkswagen ARVW set the speed record for a diesel car at Nardò, reaching a speed of 362.07 km/h
Porsche twice set 24 hour production car records at Nardò, covering 6,033 kilometers in a 928 S at an average speed of 251.4 km/h in 1982, then 6,377.25 km at an average speed of 265.72 km/h in 1993
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Porsche twice set 24 hour production car records at Nardò, covering 6,033 kilometers  in a 928 S at an average speed of 251.4 km/h in 1982, then 6,377.25 km at an average speed of 265.72 km/h in 1993
Bugatti set a speed record for a methane-powered car at Nardò in 1994 when an EB110GT was clocked at 344.7 km/h on July 2, 1994
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Bugatti set a speed record for a methane-powered car at Nardò in 1994 when an EB110GT was clocked at 344.7 km/h on July 2, 1994
Volkswagen set a world distance record for 24 hours at Nardò in 2002, when a W12 covered 7,740.576 km at an average speed of 322.891 km/h
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Volkswagen set a world distance record for 24 hours at Nardò in 2002, when a W12 covered 7,740.576 km at an average speed of 322.891 km/h
Nardò was the venue for the world speed record for a production car when, a Koenigsegg CCR ran 388 km/h on February 28, 2005
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Nardò was the venue for the world speed record for a production car when, a Koenigsegg CCR ran 388 km/h on February 28, 2005
View gallery - 11 images

Porsche's perfectly circular 12.6 km (7.8 mile) test track at Nardò in Southern Italy has been renovated and is again open for business. Far more than just the massive banked high speed test track, the Nardò Technical Center contains over 20 test tracks on an area of more than 700 hectares, and has been used by 90 automotive companies for testing in the past.

Opened in 1975, the high-speed circular track was created so that car companies could test their cars under the most extreme conditions, and has been the venue for a number of famous record attempts over the years.

Purchased by Porsche in 2012, the facility has been closed for renovation over the last six months, during which 35 million euros has been spent resurfacing the circular track and upgrading numerous other facilities within the complex.

The Nardò facility was opened in 1975, and has been used by almost 100 different automotive companies during its 44 years
The Nardò facility was opened in 1975, and has been used by almost 100 different automotive companies during its 44 years

One of the few test tracks in the world suitable for extreme speeds, the perfectly circular banked test track has four lanes, with increasing camber on each lane. The inner lane is suitable for speeds up to 130 km/h with no steering input required, and the speeds increase to 170 km/h, 210 km/h and 240 km/h respectively.

Nardò was the first circuit in the world to be lapped at over 400 km/h in 1979. On May 5, 1979, a Mercedes-Benz C111-IV powered by a 368 kW/500 hp, 4.5 liter V8, lapped the 12.6 km (7.8 mile) circuit in 1 minute and 57 seconds, averaging 403.978 km/h.
Nardò was the first circuit in the world to be lapped at over 400 km/h in 1979. On May 5, 1979, a Mercedes-Benz C111-IV powered by a 368 kW/500 hp, 4.5 liter V8, lapped the 12.6 km (7.8 mile) circuit in 1 minute and 57 seconds, averaging 403.978 km/h.

Most famously, the Nardò facility has been used for a number of records over the years, including the first time that mankind lapped any course at over 400 km/h in 1979, when a Mercedes-Benz C111-IV completed a lap of the 12.6 km circuit in 1 minute and 57 seconds, averaging 403.978 km/h. The previous world record average speed for a lap of any circuit had been established in 1975 at 355.854 km/h by a 1,000 hp racing car during the American Can-Am series.

Mercedes-Benz launched the 190 E 2.3-16 at Nardò by setting several world long-distance records over 25,000 kilometers, 25,000 miles, and 50,000 kilometers, averaging almost 250 km/h
Mercedes-Benz launched the 190 E 2.3-16 at Nardò by setting several world long-distance records over 25,000 kilometers, 25,000 miles, and 50,000 kilometers, averaging almost 250 km/h

Mercedes-Benz has been a regular customer of Nardò, using it for numerous long distance records including launching the 190 E 2.3-16 by setting several world long-distance records over 25,000 kilometers, 25,000 miles, and 50,000 kilometers, with average speeds of almost 250 km/h at Nardò.

In 1980 a Volkswagen ARVW set the speed record for a diesel car at Nardò, reaching a speed of 362.07 km/h
In 1980 a Volkswagen ARVW set the speed record for a diesel car at Nardò, reaching a speed of 362.07 km/h

In 1980 a Volkswagen ARVW set the speed record for a diesel car at Nardò, reaching a speed of 362.07 km/h.

Porsche twice set 24 hour production car records at Nardò, covering 6,033 kilometers in a 928 S at an average speed of 251.4 km/h in 1982, then 6,377.25 km at an average speed of 265.72 km/h in 1993
Porsche twice set 24 hour production car records at Nardò, covering 6,033 kilometers  in a 928 S at an average speed of 251.4 km/h in 1982, then 6,377.25 km at an average speed of 265.72 km/h in 1993

Prior to purchasing the Nardò facility, Porsche was also a regular visitor, covering 6,033 kilometers in 24 hours in 928 S in 1982 at an average speed of 251.4 km/h, then again in 1993 when a 928 GTS traveled 6,377.25 km in 24 hours at an average speed of 265.72 km/h.

Bugatti set a speed record for a methane-powered car at Nardò in 1994 when an EB110GT was clocked at 344.7 km/h on July 2, 1994
Bugatti set a speed record for a methane-powered car at Nardò in 1994 when an EB110GT was clocked at 344.7 km/h on July 2, 1994

During Bugatti's second incarnation, a Bugatti EB110GT set a speed record for a methane-powered car at Nardò, clocking 344.7 km/h on July 2, 1994.

Volkswagen set a world distance record for 24 hours at Nardò in 2002, when a W12 covered 7,740.576 km at an average speed of 322.891 km/h
Volkswagen set a world distance record for 24 hours at Nardò in 2002, when a W12 covered 7,740.576 km at an average speed of 322.891 km/h

Just when this fine publication was getting underway, on February 23, 2002, a Volkswagen W12 set a world distance record for 24 hours at Nardò, when it covered 7,740.576 km at an average speed of 322.891 km/h.

Nardò was the venue for the world speed record for a production car when, a Koenigsegg CCR ran 388 km/h on February 28, 2005
Nardò was the venue for the world speed record for a production car when, a Koenigsegg CCR ran 388 km/h on February 28, 2005

Most recently, Nardò was the venue for the world speed record for a production car when, a Koenigsegg CCR ran 388 km/h on February 28, 2005.

Now that the track has been resurfaced, no doubt we'll see the Nardò name in the news once more.

Source: Porsche

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