The FPR Race Centre Creates A New Benchmark In Australian Motor Racing Engineering Exellence
1/3/2004 16:36 (Press Release) -
The newly opened Ford Performance Racing (FPR) technical
headquarters and race centre in Melbourne creates a new benchmark in Australian
motor racing engineering by Prodrive.
The impressive 3,600 square metre building has been designed to accommodate
every facet of FPR's V8 Supercar manufacturing, engineering and marketing
activities.
Serving both as a technical and commercial centre for FPR, the modern facility
is also a multi- purpose venue that can be used by the team's marketing
partners for conferences, meetings or general activities, integrating selected
business activities of FPR's commercial partners within the one versatile
building.
In addition to this being the nation's largest motor racing engineering
facility, the new FPR headquarters is also the business centre for Ford
Performance Vehicles (FPV). The company's management and marketing teams are
also based in the new headquarters, further promoting the total performance
link between FPV and its racing counterpart FPR.
Located on the same site as Australia's only V8 engine production line and
Prodrive Automotive Technology's Australian technical centre, all of the FPV
and FPR facilities are located within a one kilometre radius of the main Ford
Australia assembly plant. This enables the FPR to take full advantage of the
design and engineering resources of Ford Australia and Prodrive, two of the
world's leading automotive and motorsport engineering companies.
The public entrance to the FPR Race Centre takes the form of a retail outlet,
representing FPV, FPR and Ford merchandise. A stylish café that has also been
fitted with windows that offer close-up views of the FPR crew working on the
team's BA Falcon V8 Supercars for Champion drivers Craig Lowndes and Glenn
Seton.
The main workshop area consists of three purpose built car bays complete with
hoists and work benches. These have been centrally located in the building,
enabling all of the sub-assembly components to be manufactured and supplied
from either side with all components coming together in the centre of the
facility for the build or maintenance of each car. The cars can then be easily
loaded into the team transporter, one of two brand new B-Double trailers and
their prime movers which also have permanent parking and loading positions
within the race centre building.
On the same level as the race workshop floor is an office area which houses
the FPR race engineers, operations manager and factory manager. Adjacent to
this office area is a small composites room for the repair of carbon fibre
components. This composites repair facility will be continually developed as
the year progresses and space has been allocated for future expansion of the
team's composites production capability.
A newly equipped fabrication workshop is located to the left side of the
workshop floor, featuring new tooling including a power bender, power folder,
manual equipment and modern jigging equipment. This well appointed fabrication
area will enable the team to build its own Falcon body shells and roll cages
for the first time and raise the quality and specification of the team's
manufactured car parts.
The biggest step forward in the new FPR Race Centre can be found in the team 's
state of the art machine shop. The team has installed two Mori Seki CNC
machines, one featuring a four axis turning centre and a three axis milling
machine. Joining this leading edge CAD / CAM equipment are three high quality
manual machines including a surface grinder, mill and lathe.
Adjacent to the machine shop is a separate area devoted purely to team research
and development. This part of the race centre includes precision equipment that
allows the team to test the torsion levels of their BA Falcon V8 Supercar
chassis and associated suspension components through physical tests. A separate
enclosed working area within the R & D room enables FPR to build, test and
develop shock absorbers.
The right side of the workshop floor finds a well equipped store facility,
designed to handle large V8 Supercar components such as body parts along with
the smaller fastening and quarantined components which are destined for engine
and transmission sub-assemblies.
Adjacent to the stores facility are three pristinely clean build rooms for the
team's differential housings, transmissions and engine sub-assemblies. At the
rear of these rooms is a "dirty" area for the detailed cleaning of these
components prior to re-assembly.
The sub-assembly area features a new crack testing machine which allows the
team to inspect all drive line and engine components for evidence of fatigue.
The engine build shop next door contains three build stations, each equipped
with its own computer to accurately log mileages, engine component life and
specifications. The completed engines are then taken through to the adjacent
1,200 horsepower dynamometer cell.
This high capacity dynamometer far exceeds the power requirements for V8
Supercar engines, to ensure the highest resolution within the power ranges
required.
The FPR dyno room is equipped with a high level of sensitive technical
equipment and the facility has also been designed to accommodate a second
dynamometer in the future. The entire area is also climate controlled both
within the dyno cells and for the engine air inlet feeds.
At the outside of the FPR Race Centre is an undercover cleaning area for
chassis components and the team transporters, which can also be used as an
undercover loading area for the team's B-Double transporters if required, with
ample turning space incorporated into the site design. The delivery bay to the
FPR Race Centre stores facility is also completely undercover.
The FPR Race Centre does not end at the workshop floor, with the first level
housing the team's management, administration and marketing personnel, who are
also joined by two FPR design engineers. The design engineers operate two HP
CAD platforms running C3-P Ideas software, (as also used by Ford Australia) a
powerful design package that assists the team in making very accurate and
comprehensive models of the cars and their components.
According to John Russell, FPR Chief Engineer, "The new FPR Race Centre allows
the team to become predominantly self sufficient in the manufacturing and
quality control of most components that are used on our racing program.
Coupling this with the excellent car, engine and sub assembly preparation
facilities provides us with the tools to step up to the next level. We see this
integration of all key team operational components as an integral part of the
evolution of FPR."
Destined to become a regular attraction for Melbourne bound motor racing and
automotive enthusiasts, the FPR Race Centre is a venue designed primarily as a
world class motor racing engineering facility with major emphasis on
accessibility for the public and practicality for the team's corporate
partners. The attractive venue is also a brilliant public platform to showcase
the latest in total performance from both FPV and FPR.
The FPR Race Centre retail outlet and café is located at 4-40 Glenbarry Road
Campbellfield, Victoria. Public area operating hours are from 9:00am to 5:00pm
Monday to Friday and 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays. Organised tours of the FPR
Race Centre and FPV manufacturing facilities are scheduled twice per week and
can only be arranged by contacting the FPV Customer Relationship Centre on 133
FPV (378).
Release Date: 29/02/2004
Ford Performance Racing
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