A subterranean vehicle test track, hidden away from the prying eyes of industry competitors, has opened.
The £12 million Catesby Aerodynamic Research Facility (CARF) has opened inside a 1.7 mile long, disused Victorian railway tunnel in the Northamptonshire countryside.
The track is aimed at vehicle designers from the world’s biggest automotive companies and motorsport teams, in a setting said to be more accurate and efficient than a traditional wind tunnel.
The opening was marked by a Lotus 79 F1 car which made a spectacular noise racing down the enclosed space.
Special guests included Mike Costin – who founded Cosworth Engineering in 1958 with Keith Duckworth, powering the same Lotus driven Mario Andretti to the 1978 F1 World – and Peter Wright who worked alongside them.
Jon Paton, group leader at Catesby Projects, the company behind the site, said: “We are really proud to see the tunnel open and ready for customers.
“To have automotive and motorsport customers start to use the tunnel and to find out for themselves what makes Catesby so powerful is really exciting.”
Work started on the tunnel in February 1895 and it was completed – using around 30 million bricks – in May 1897.
The line was part of the Great Central’s ‘London Extension’ with the first train running through in July 1898. It was in service until September 1966.
A spokesman for the project said: “Catesby Tunnel is set to become the worldwide benchmark for aerodynamic testing and vehicle development.
“The facility is expected to attract customers from Europe and the rest of the world.
“The development will enhance the capabilities of the UK vehicle industry and provide a base for the commercialisation of new technology, innovation and R&D.”
It was created with £4.2 million of investment from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured through the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership.
The tunnel is near a new Catesby Innovation Centre situated in Catesby Park, designed to be used by high-tech companies.
