Nr. 27 Year 2013 MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY DALLARA "Periodico regolarmente registrato presso il Tribunale di Parma (n.16, 03/09/2010)" INTERVIEW WITH GIAN PAOLO DALLARA THE FOUNDER OF THE FACTORY STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING FUTURE CHALLENGES WITH AN OPEN MIND AND ATTENTION TO A SERIES OF FUNDAMENTAL THEMES: INNOVATION, COST MANAGEMENT AND ATTENTION TO MATERIALS. BECAUSE TOMORROW'S RACING WORLD BELONGS TO TODAY'S YOUNG PEOPLE

MOTORSPORT AND INDUSTRY WE TALK TO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DALLARA, ANDREA PONTREMOLI, ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT ITALIAN AND WORLD MOTORSPORTS CAN HAVE ON THE ECONOMIC CRISIS. RACING REPRESENTS A WEALTH OF HUMAN AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES THAT CAN OFFER TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO THE WIDER INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY THE FUTURE OF INDYCAR THE ONUS IS ON SAFETY, AS REQUESTED BY THE DRIVERS, BUT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE EXCITEMENT THAT IS THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS. IN A FULL AND FASCINATING INTERVIEW ENGINEER TOSO REVEALS ALL THE SECRETS OF DALLARA’S AMERICAN ADVENTURE Gian Paolo Dallara

2 «MOTORSPORT MUST INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE»

IN AN INCREASINGLY GLOBALIZED WORLD, THE FACTORY IN VARANO DE’ MELEGARI IS WELL-PREPARED FOR THE NEW CHALLENGES FACING MOTORSPORTS. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, ENGINEER DALLARA UNDERLINES HOW HIS COMPANY WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN INNOVATION, IN INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT OF COSTS AND “GREEN” MATERIALS, WHILE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE SITUATION IN AMERICA AND THE EMERGING MARKETS. AND THE COLLABORATION WITH ZANARDI MAY RESULT IN A SURPRISE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HAND-BIKE “FOR EVERYONE”

3 Engineer, the experts are predicting that What will the increased us of green Do you intend to extend the handbike 2013 will be another difficult year, for the engines mean for chassis builder, such as project from the Paralympics to everyone, global economy and for motorsports. Do Dallara? able-bodied and differently abled alike? you at Dallara intend to continue «I don’t envisage any particular problems, «It depends on what Alex wants to do, on investing in research and innovation? apart from the need to design stronger how much time he has available, on how «We will continue to invest in research battery compartments and to modify the much time we can spare from the projects and innovation, even though I have to way the weight is distributed». that are already in progress, on the results admit that 2013 does not look like being of our research into whether there is a a particularly difficult year for Dallara. What evolutions do you expect to see in viable market for it. We’re keeping our We have a number of projects underway, the minor championships, starting with options open». Gian Paolo Dallara and various commitments that have F.3? already been scheduled, and this enables «The regulations for F3 have already been Are racing cars still valid as a source of us to plan our activities, and that defined. Given the ever increasing ideas for production car? includes a great deal of Research and importance of cost, the decision to opt for «It’s not like a hundred years ago when Development». unsophisticated motors is entirely motor racing represented the best way of reasonable. Over the next few years, the proposing new solutions, however there In your opinion, what are the challenges engines will also be downsized in other are still certain areas where motorsports facing motorsports in the short term? categories, such as World Series, GP3, GP2, has an important role to play. I'm «Getting young people involved in the etc.» thinking, for example, about the spread sector again, by leveraging their customs of the aerodynamic culture, the and habits and using the communication Will there be any further developments widespread use of composite materials processes that are an integral part of on the Dallara simulator? and energy recover technologies: youth culture. The status quo whereby the «The simulator is set to play an tomorrow's cars will be more energy “driver races and the spectator watches” is important role in preparing drivers, cars efficient thanks to use of lighter materials fast becoming a thing of the past, and it and technicians, as well as in the efforts and improved aerodynamics». has become necessary to reinvent the to make the competitions more spectator/motor racing relationship, accessible to the spectators. This process 2013 sees the 90th anniversary of the 24 making use of virtual reality applications is still in its infancy, and there will be Hours of Le Mans: would you like to that will enable young people to challenge continuous developments over the next race on the Sarthe circuit again? the drivers». few years». «Our company isn’t big enough to participate directly, and we lack the And where does the future of motor What are Dallara’s long term objectives in necessary skills. However, we have always racing lie? The far east, the emerging the USA? been fortunate enough to collaborate, on markets, or will it always be a «It will be necessary to increase the specific areas of the cars, with various predominantly European and American number of components produced companies that do compete in the 24 concern? for the American racing car market in Hours». «It’s a global world, and this means that our American factory, which will the globalization of motorsports is become an engineering center at the What do you think of systems, like DRS, inevitable. It is important to resolve the same level as here in Varano: the two that, while not exactly in the spirit of problems in the West first, since this is factories must work together on racing, increase the excitement on the where the sport is most popular. Rather coordinated R&D activities designed to track? than East and West, I think it’s more create high performance production «The competitions have become so boring accurate to talk in terms of mature models. For this reason, we intend to in recent years that I would welcome with markets (Europe, USA, Japan) and expand the operation along the lines open arms any initiative designed to emerging markets (India and China in that have already been tried and tested promote overtaking, which is the essence particular)». in Italy». of the competition».

Will the new F.1 technical configuration What did you learn from the extraordinary Which driver from the past would you that comes into force in 2014 result in experience of working with Alessandro have liked to see in a Dallara? any changes in the other main racing Zanardi? «We’ve had so many great drivers that I categories? «You cannot put a price on the privilege couldn’t ask for anything more». «It’s very likely: the engines will probably of working with and getting to know a become lighter, smaller and more efficient; real man like him, it’s indescribable. He One last semi-serious question: is there a process that is already underway is an example and a stimulus to everyone more chance of Dallara returning to F.1 or throughout the automotive sector. There who has the good fortune to meet him, Parma winning the Scudetto? will be increased onus on energy recovery: thanks to his constant positive attitude. «There’s more chance of Parma winning I would expect to see much more He’s a great driver, but an even greater the Scudetto». widespread use of hybrid systems». man». Alessandro Santini

“YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE ON THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH AND GETTING TO KNOW A REAL MAN LIKE HIM, IT’S INDESCRIBABLE. HE IS AN EXAMPLE AND A STIMULUS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS THE GOOD FORTUNE TO MEET HIM, THANKS TO HIS CONSTANT POSITIVE ATTITUDE. HE’S A GREAT DRIVER, BUT AN EVEN GREATER MAN”

4 5 Andrea Pontremoli Andrea «PEOPLE ARE THE SOURCE OF INNOVATION»

THE ITALIAN MOTORSPORTS INDUSTRY MAY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN ITALY, PROVIDED IT IS PREPARED TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE, INVEST IN HUMAN AS WELL AS TECHNICAL CAPITAL AND INCREASE INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE EDUCATION SECTOR AND THE WORKPLACE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER LOCAL PLAYERS. ENGINEER PONTREMOLI, CEO OF DALLARA AUTOMOBILI, TELLS ABOUT THE NEXT CHALLENGES FACING THE COMPANY

Engineer Pontremoli, to what degree can the Emilia Romagna region, with our customers how should it be managed? Italian motorsports industry make a and suppliers, and local schools and «The distinction between education and the contribution to the economic recovery in Italy? educational establishments with the aim of workplace is vanishing fast. Nowadays people «Its contribution depends on the extent to which getting back to the idea of learning a trade, of will change jobs at least ten times during their it is regarded as an industry, taking example knowing how to do or make something. This is working lives and it is vitally important that from Great Britain, where it is viewed as a niche not valid only for Dallara and our local region, they continue to learn and never stop studying. industry using highly advanced technologies but for all those Italian companies that cannot It is important to introduce students to the that have the potential to be implemented in count on the advantages of economies of scale working environment as early as possible, other industrial sectors. In contrast to other or low labour costs, and are therefore obliged to through visits and work experience schemes, so sports, which concentrate exclusively on rely on specialization and differentiation in that they begin to form their ideas about the competition and entertainment, motorsports is order to compete on a global level». world of manufacturing and production while heavily reliant on innovation and technology: they are still at school. This relationship should two areas where Italy has always excelled on What is the basis for a “people friendly” then be allowed to develop over time, so that the world stage». factory capable of competing at a global level young people gradually spend more time at in terms of excellence? work, and less time at school, but without ever How has Dallara positioned itself as a business «It’s born out of the concept that a company is completely abandoning their studies. The other model for companies wishing to take up the not innovative because it has innovative important concept is that the employment challenge of expanding from a local base? technology, but because it has innovative market is rapidly polarizing into two distinct «As I always say, the most important thing to personnel. It’s important to make the distinction categories: intellectual jobs and highly manual bear in mind is that company cannot expect to between innovation, which is a state of mind, and skilled jobs that require workers to learn a be competitive if it is not competitive in its own and technology, which is the product of trade. Both categories have the same prestige territory. In a global market, the competition is innovation. A company must build its future on and it is essential to maintain one's studies in increasingly played out at a local level, rather the passion, motivation and innovation of the order to be up to the numerous challenges that than in terms of single companies. people who work for it». they present. The remaining types of jobs - all With this in mind, we have been concentrating those that involve carrying out relatively simple on establishing close working relationships with How important is the integration between the and repetitive activities - will sooner or later be our neighbours, with companies located in the world of education and the workplace? And performed exclusively by machines or robots».

6 7 Andrea Pontremoli Andrea

Is there any place for phrases like there are virtually no limits to the visualize and develop motorsports as an "solidarity” and “the common good” in opportunities it is able to offer. Motorsports industry. But we have inventiveness and a today's industrial world? is first and foremost a results driven capacity to react on our side. The winner «Increasingly so, thanks primarily to the business, and this encourages youngsters to will be the one that manages to attract the concept of inter-territorial competition that think in terms of merit rather than emerging nations such as India, China and I mentioned earlier. Companies must go justifications. Young people have become Brazil». beyond the standard, and strive to achieve too used to making excuses: “I couldn’t more than their industrial goals. Companies come to school because….”, “I couldn’t do How important is Dallara’s American that think in these terms have an eye on it because….”. We have to re-establish a experience in terms of growth? the future, but those who do not will not be results-based culture». «It’s important because it enables us to around much longer». draw on the American motorsports Oxfordshire in England versus Motor Valley mentality, where entertainment is What opportunities can motorsports offer in Italy: competition or collaboration? paramount, and the customers are those young people, engineers and specialized «These two areas, which represent the birth who pay for the tickets, in contrast to mechanics who are looking for work? places of world motorsports, are in direct Europe, where everything revolves around «The sector’s position at the forefront of competition for the control of a global the technology and the customer is the technology and innovation means that market. Oxfordshire was the first to driver. Another important factor is what we

8 can learn from their practicality: important synergies and help in the it’s time to start releasing our energy, and “innovation that matters”, concrete development of our industry». motorsports teaches us how to release innovation that serves a purpose. Last, and energy efficiently». not least, is that it gives you the chance to What advice would you give to Italy’s next access an enormous market, if you've got government on how best to manage the On a personal level, what is your next what it takes». industrial and economic capital challenge as MD of Dallara represented by the Italian motorsports «My aim is to see the company continue to What can motorsports draw from sectors sector? grow, not in size but in terms of skills in such as aeronautics and aerospace, where «My first suggestion would be to decrease our three strategic areas (vehicle dynamics Italy has always been a leading player in taxes on labour costs. Italy has a very and simulation, composites and the past? powerful engine, but it needs a starter aerodynamics), as well as developing our «A great deal. We have only recently started motor to get it moving again, giving an interests in other business sectors and looking into these aspects and we have impulse to the firms and companies allow geographical areas. Another important already discovered a number of areas in the them to start taking on staff again, objective is to develop the territory, starting fields of simulation, aerodynamics and especially young people. If we can get that from Motor Valley before expanding into composite materials – our three “core motor running then everything else will Italy as a whole». expertises” – that could give rise to follow. We are currently in the doldrums; Alessandro Santini

9 IZOD IndyCar 2013

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

WE CONDUCTED A LONG AND INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH ENGINEER ANDREA TOSO, IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE PRESTIGIOUS AMERICAN SINGLE-SEATER CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2013. DESPITE THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS, INTELLIGENT COST CONTAINMENT POLICIES MEAN THAT THE TEAMS WILL BE ABLE TO DEVOTE ALL THEIR ENERGIES TO RACING OVER THE UPCOMING SEASONS, WHILST ALSO BENEFITTING FROM NEW AND INNOVATIVE SAFETY PARAMETERS, AS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY THE DRIVERS THEMSELVES. THE CHAMPION AMERICAN DRIVER RYAN HUNTER-REAY WAS THE STAR OF AN ENJOYABLE AND MOVING VISIT TO VARANO; ENGINEER TOSO TAKES US BEHIND THE SCENES...

10 11 IZOD IndyCar 2013

Engineer Toso, what are the aims and the car to come into contact with the barriers From your point of a view as a constructor, expectations for the IZOD IndyCar 2013 in the event of a lateral impact. The risk of what are your suggestions for the further season? rolling was not particularly high during the development of the category over the next «The 2012 season was very hard on the preceding season, and no drivers were few years? teams: in the middle of a global economic affected by it; however we became aware «Motorsports in the United States, and and financial crisis the team owners were that there was still room for improvement in especially IZOD Indycar, is primarily a show obliged to buy new cars, new engines, new this area. business event, and this means that it is in equipment, whether they liked it or not; Thanks to a number of suggestions from the direct competition with other sporting events inevitably, drivers and engineers asked the drivers, and in agreement with IZOD Indycar, such as baseball, football, basketball and owners to invest in time on the test track, in after having already modified the structure hockey, all of which have vast numbers of wind tunnels, simulators and in a range of of the bodywork during the season, at fans, both on television and the Internet. It’s laboratory tests in order to get to know the Dallara we have designed and built lateral easy to promise our sponsors increased new product. In addition, the teams were structures that will be mounted in the cockpit audiences, improved television coverage and forced to divest themselves of their existing at the same height as the driver’s shoulders. hence greater profits, but it is also important cars, and all the associated spare parts, These structures will be mounted internally to bear in mind that the Motorsports market, without any way of recouping their costs so that they are not exposed to the external and the sports entertainment market in and, in a wider sense, to relinquish all their air flow; this solution enabled us to avoid general, is not infinite and that, in the final data, know-how and experience. The 2013 altering the car’s performance or its analysis, its earnings potential is limited by season is far more promising since there have aerodynamic stability while improving the how much the fans who make up the sector been little or no modifications to the cars or passive safety in the event of an accident. are able to pay: increasing the value of IZOD the engines, with the exception of a series of The growing popularity of street circuits, Indycar implies detracting revenue from requests on the part of the organizers and which enable city authorities (for example other motorsports categories, and from the the teams in light of their experiences in Baltimore and, in the near future, rest of the entertainment sector, including 2012: this means that the teams will be able Providence) to boost the local economy by cinema, video games, tourism etc. In order to to revert to their normal management attracting a new class of tourist, prompted achieve this we have to be able to modify the regimes, concentrating on costs, profits, and us to introduce further modifications. In public’s habits and interests, and the efficient organization of their personnel and response to the violent braking and low inclination to spend their money, and this activities for the next four seasons». average speeds that typify these circuits, we will take time and the right people. In have developed intakes that increase the conclusion: in order to ensure that Indycar What are the new developments for the quantity of cooling air that reaches the continues to develop over the next few years, 2013 season? brakes: the team engineers can decide the organizers, suppliers, teams and drivers «Every modification represents a cost, and whether to favour lap performance by must simply concentrate on doing their jobs someone, somewhere in the system will have retaining the current, smaller intakes, or and doing them well: the results will surely to pay for it, with the exception of safety install the larger brake intakes in order to follow». devices, where the cost of implementing is reduce the working temperature of the brake generally less than the potential cost of not disks during the race and hence the costs What feed-back have you had from the implementing them; this is why safety associated with the wear and tear on the teams about the new car? measures can usually be introduced quickly brakes over the entire season. Another «After July 2010, when Dallara and IZOD and with little or no resistance. An example example concerns new structures that are Indycar signed the contract, two distinct of a safety-related improvement concerns the designed to reduce the risk of damaging the points of view emerged among the fans, risk that the drivers run of rolling their cars brakes during the frequent and frenetic pit- journalists, drivers, engineers and team in the event of a lateral impact against the stops: in this case, the cost of the new owners. Some were unwilling to invest and barriers at high speed on the oval tracks; this components is significantly lower than the felt that, given the difficult economic is exacerbated by the fact the bodywork on cost of damaging the brake disks, and both situation, it would be better not to change the new Dallara Indycar is actually wider the organizers and the teams were happy to anything at all, whereas others were than the tyres, so that it is the first part of implement it». convinced that, after nine years with the

12 same car and the same engines, it was time between motor racing in the United States drivers and the engineers that use them, the for a radical departure, suggesting, for and the rest of the world, predominantly team owners who decide when and what to example, the Delta Wing. Both sides had Europe. In Europe and the rest of the world, buy, the sponsors who finance the teams valid arguments, but in the end they were with the exception of the United States, FIA and the race organizers, to the fans who pay able to achieve consensus and the Indycar controls both the technical and the for the whole show, are well aware that they community decided unanimously to economic aspects of the sport, the main all have their own equally important part to introduce a new car, while stipulating that category is Formula 1, which represents the play, and that the success is always positive the contents be tailored to well-defined ultimate goal for drivers, technicians, for theam all because it makes it possible to priorities, and at a greatly reduced purchase constructors and sponsors alike. In contrast, repeat the show and invest in new events price: first of all, more advanced safety the United States supports a number of top the following year». systems (rear wheel protection and wider level motor racing championships, such as bodywork to reduce the risk of contact Nascar, Midgets, Dragster and Indycar; this How has your relationship with the between the wheels), which immediately means that, for many American racing fans, leadership of the category developed? attracted the attention of FIA; secondly, Indycar does not necessarily represent the «Essentially the Indycar leadership hasn’t increased working life of components; pinnacle of the sport. really changed at all. The Indianapolis thirdly, performance levels consistent with a With this in mind, the people who are circuit and IZOD Indycar are controlled by spectacle that relies on frequent overtaking directly involved the IZOD Indycar Series the Hulman-Georges, a historic Indiana manoeuvres». constitute a tightly-knit community, similar family, and a number of collaborators who to a travelling theatre company, and with a have extensive experience in the sector. The To what degree would you say that the specific demographic of passionate fans. most important change was the departure of teams have the desire to increase their Therefore, it is entirely natural that each the managing director, Randy Bernard, who influence within the IZOD IndyCar “actor” in this company occasionally feels dedicated a great deal of time energy to organization? the desire to play the leading role; but all promoting the category and was responsible «To answer that question it is necessary to the actors, from those who supply the tyres, for bringing new sponsors on board and take into account the cultural differences electronics, engines or chassis, through the organizing events in new locations

L’ingegner Toso con Ryan Hunter Reay in visita alla Dallara 13 IZOD IndyCar 2013

(Baltimore, Houston). However, after three participated in a meeting with about a such considerations, which exploit the “green” years in such a highly demanding role, he hundred students from local schools and concept to justify new activities and increased felt that it would benefit both the Dallara’s collaborators: he was charming, turnover, we are all too aware of how often organization and himself if he were to move uncomplicated, polite, displayed genuine technology tends to complicate products, on. In fact, there will be little or no change interest in anything that anyone had to say, making them seem almost alien to those that at Indycar, which is entirely in keeping with and was more than happy to reply to in full use them and those who are interested in the traditional character of the Hulman- to any questions, he even went off on his them; by the same token, the principal reason George family, who prefer to remain behind own to find a chair when it was time for an for using exotic and expensive materials is the scenes. The Hulman-Georges and Dallara autograph session, and stayed on until the frequently lost on the general public, and have been working together for fifteen years last guest had left, approachable and with a may not even be justified by the results and have built up an excellent relationship smile in his eyes and his heart». achieved in terms of improved performance that goes well beyond the terms of the or reduced consumption. To be perfectly contract. A relationship like ours, built on Did Hunter-Reay express any requirements frank, I think it’s rather difficult to establish mutual trust, is simply priceless». or requests on the part of the drivers? any significant correlation between the «Ryan is an all-round professional, capable "green" economy and motor racing Hunter-Reay visited the factory in Varano of racing at high speed on the track in competitions that rely so heavily on recently: tell us something about the man Indianapolis or on the bends at Long Beach. overtaking and braking manoeuvres, “from up close”? Just like every intelligent driver who realises performed repeatedly on the track under «Ryan is a “man of value”. He has dealt with that motorsports are not video games played highly risky conditions, and I’m tempted to family bereavement and competed for a out by invincible heroes, but hard mental recall William Faulkner’s story “Pylon”, which number of years in Champ Car and Indycar and physical work, whit respect for both his I discussed with Dan Wheldon a few days with limited success before swallowing his colleagues and for the potentially fatal risks before he died. This is especially true in the pride and relaunching his career by dropping involved, Ryan urged us never to let up in case of Indycar and the other American down to the minor championships: driving is seeking to improve his safety and that of his motor racing championships, where the onus his passion, but winning is not his obsession. fellow drivers in the event of an accident». is on entertainment, at the expense of the Ryan is a serene person, fully aware of how technical aspect, with the exception of quickly success can become “yesterday’s The green revolution is a recurrent theme safety». news”; while still a boy at heart, the man in in F.1: in your opinion could IZOD IndyCar him is capable of recognizing beauty in life also decide to increase the environmental What do you think about Alex Zanardi’s wherever it lies. A couple of annecdotes compatibility of its product? We are not latest ambition to compete in the Indy 500? illustrate Ryan the man. After a session on talking about the just engine but also «I’m hoping to speak to Alessandro over the our driving simulator in Italy, he grabbed a materials, circuits and technological next few weeks, to find out more about the helmet and tracksuit, pulled on a non- solutions in general. motives that may or may not inspire him to descript raincoat and took the KTM X-Bow «That’s an interesting question and it deserves take up this latest challenge. In any event, out onto the circuit in Varano despite the proper and adequate answer. The initial who am I to judge the achievements, dreams rain, despite the fact that there was no one response is that the new Indycar has and motives of such a brave man as there to watch him; after he’d finished, he improved aerodynamic efficiency (less Alessandro Zanardi? All I can do is offer him dried the car off and then made his way to resistance for the same downforce), and that my support when he makes his decision and the workshop to thank all the mechanics the capacity of the new engines has been the experience (and numerous mistakes) and engineers: it was like a scene from the reduced while still producing the same from my Indy 500 career, during which I book “The Art of Racing in the Rain”. I recall amount of power, and the total weight has competed in 16 races, winning twelve and another episode from his stay in Italy. Ryan been reduced. However, if we look beyond losing four».

14

Michela Cerruti

«I'VE GOT A CRUSH

RIVER THE ITALIAN D PIONSHIP AN CHAM HE BLUE WHEN THE GERM OLT FROM T PEN AND ON… DALLARA!»HE F.3 O T IT WAS LIKE A B T PIONSHIP TY, BU RIENCES IN AL CHAM TWEN HER EXPE NTINENT TIL SHE WAS O. AFTER HE CO ACING UN VARAN IGOURS OF T ’T START R TERS FROM BY THE R SHE DIDN -SEA HE TEST TERED THE SINGLE TTOT ENCOUN CING WILL BE PU E FOR R A HER LOV

16 La Cerruti con la monoposto della F.3 Open

You began your career in GT and Touring cars, so I don’t suppose you knew much about Dallara did you? The FIA European F.3. season will «Not really, I only started to hear feature a young lady from Italy. Her people talk about them when I began name is Michela Cerruti, she will be to get involved in motorsports. And I driving a Dallara 312 featuring a have to say that people only had good Mercedes engine, and will be the things to say about them. I began to figurehead of a new team that has find a lot more about them and their been created practically for her, with work in 2011, when working as a co- the involvement of Romeo Ferraris, commentator for Sky on the IndyCar the noted engine designer and Races, where the cars are all produced Superstars series team owner. Unlike by Dallara. It opened up an incredible 99 per cent of drivers, Ms. Cerruti, new world for me and one day, out of didn’t start racing until she was 20, curiosity, I went to visit their factory, and made her debut directly in which took my breath away. They were covered wheel categories. She only happy to show me around the whole moved into single-seaters towards the premises, every aspect of their end of 2011 when she plucked up activities, and it was just incredible. enough courage to take part in winter Another time I went back to Dallara to testing on the GP3. But from then on try out their amazing simulator. I’d nothing has stood in the way of her used quite a few different simulators in rise through the ranks. In fact, she the past, when training for the Touring→ raced in the F.3 Open, before moving races, but theirs is truly unique, I think onto F.3 in Germany, and now she’s it must be the most complex machine ready to for the important and difficult challenge of the European championship.

17 Michela Cerruti

Sopra, Michela con la GP3. A sinistra, con la F.3 tedesca

18 “I COMPETED IN THE F.3 OPEN, INITIALLY IN THE 308, BUT IT WAS THE 312 THAT I REALLY SEALED IT FOR ME! THE CAR DRIVES AND HANDLES EVEN BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS MODEL, ANDITWASTHIS, TOGETHER WITH THE EXPERIENCE IN F.3 IN GERMANY THAT CONVINCED ME TO MAKE THE MOVE TO THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP”

on the face of the earth! The driving nothing I like better than a challenge sensation is impressively realistic, and that seems impossible. My whole so are the modifications to the set-up, career so far has been a series of leaps the circuits, and the lap times. Once, in the dark, and every year has when I was there, I met the Indycar brought a new and more difficult driver Kanaan; he was trying challenge, and I fully expect this to be something out for Indianapolis and it the most demanding». was an exceptional experience». Why did you decide to move to a new It was love at first sight for you with team, almost a “family concern” as it the single-seaters… were? «The first time I tried a formula (the «A series of coincidences, and some Dallara GP3 for the record), I expectations that were not fulfilled understood right away why everyone during 2012, convinced me and my always says that the sensation you get advisers to opt for this solution, not at the wheel of a single-seater is least because at least now we know unique. I have to admit that, at time, I exactly who we will be dealing with. found it quite hard to get used to a Ferraris has always been supportive type of car that I had never driven and it’s definitely the wisest choice. It’s before; let's just say it was a learning going to be tough, and I’m going into curve». it with very little experience, but that’s the way I like it». Then you moved on from the Dallara GP3 to the Dallara F.3… The European F.3 championship will «And I fell in love with the category mostly be held concurrently with straight away. I competed in the F.3 DTM (German Touring Car Masters) Open, initially in the 308, but it was events this year. Do you like the idea? the 312 that I really sealed it for me! «It’s always been my favourite The car drives and handles even better category, I debated the idea last year than the previous model, and it was with a group of directors from BMW this, together with the experience in who were following the races in Italy F.3 in Germany that convinced me to (Editor’s note: Michela has also make the move to the European competed in German GT cars)… championship». However, I've noticed that there are almost no female drivers left in DTM How difficult do you expect the these days, they tend to go for top European challenge is going to be for quality, ex-F.1 drivers, so I think it will you? be very difficult for me to break into «I like to think that I will be competing that world one day. in a highly competitive championship, full of really fast drivers. There’s Massimo Costa

19 Simulator

20 TOTAL DRIVING

A LONG “SESSION” ON THE DALLARA SIMULATOR WITH ENGINEER MORONI, WHO REVEALS ITS SECRETS AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS. A HIGHLY VERSATILE TOOL THAT IS PERFECT FOR TESTING CARS, TRACKS, CONFIGURATIONS.... AND DRIVERS WITH INCREDIBLY REALISTIC RESULTS, AND ENABLES TEAMS TO SAVE BOTH TIME AND MONEY. MANY OF THE WORLD’S TOP DRIVERS HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THEIR EXPERIENCE AT VARANO, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM WERE ABLE TO GET THE BETTER OF DALLARA’S TECHNICIANS….

Engineer Moroni, the Dallara simulator has achieved with dynamic stresses that ensure that the driver in the “cult” status among Italian teams and drivers. Would you simulator perceives these details: if the car is over-steering, mind summarizing the type of technology it’s based on if the road surface is smooth, if the aerodynamics that you for us? have modelled for two different wing configurations «The basic idea was to create a test bench capable of actually makes any difference. In the absence of either of reproducing the car's performance, or rather its effect on these components the simulator may still be used for other the driver. A realistic test bench that would make the purposes - for example, for learning the track layout, the drivers feel as though they were actually driving the car. order of the bends and curves, what gear to use - but it The key is to make the drivers feel that they have to drive as cannot provide drivers with complete training». if it were a real car. In other words: in the event of a skid, they must react as if they were on the track, and the What types of tests can be carried out on the simulator? mathematical model of the car will respond as the real car «It allows drivers to prepare for the conditions they will would on the under real conditions. If the system does not experience when they are on the track, and this is extremely fulfil this aim, drivers will react as if they were playing a useful in the case of championships that provide very simple videogame, and the chances are that the input they limited opportunities for free practising. They can experience provide the model with would not correspond to reality. a whole range of in-race situations such as the start, wet And that, in a nutshell, is the engineering value of a road surfaces, various wind conditions, and driving the car simulator”. when it is affected by wear and tear. It also provides technicians with useful information about the car’s A kind of reality-effect obtained by using mathematical behaviour. In other words, it’s like having an infinite models? telemetry that describes the behaviour of the car. Provided «It’s obtained by combining two elements: Highly detailed that they include an adequate range of tests, carrying out mathematical models that provide a realistic couple of trials on the simulator enables the teams to representation of the car, the road, and the tyres, together complete 80% of the work before they even reach the track».

21 Simulator

Is it also possible to analyze a driver's racing style using this system? “Certainly. It’s never possible to make an exact comparison between two drivers on the track because the cars may be different and track conditions may vary from moment to moment: on the simulator it is possible to isolate all the variables, modifying one parameter at a time. This means that you can be sure that the car and the track are always the same. It’s the perfect tool for comparing two different drivers».

Are there any objective studies that demonstrate how faithfully the simulator reproduces the experience on the track? «Numbers only tell a part of the story; to get a better idea of how accurate the simulator is, it is worth considering the types of tests that the technicians here at Dallara and the engineers that accompany the drivers carry out during a session. It is possible to carry out tests where the angle of a wheel is modified by one tenth of a degree, or some other configuration parameter is varied by a single millimetre: this gives an idea of just how accurate the simulation is. It certainly wouldn't be possible to alter a wheel alignment in a video game and then observe the effect on the action».

Will the simulator ever replace track Computer, wind tunnel, simulator: how do the simulator also works for the different testing completely? these three elements fit together? departments by evaluating the effectiveness of «No, a 100% substitution will never be «In a company like Dallara, the simulator is an aerodynamic solution or a suspension possible. There is no limit to the tests that effectively used to collect information from all system designed in a certain way, together can be carried out using the simulator, but the other departments. It imposes and with the driver». it can never reproduce the specific weather promotes interaction between different conditions on a given day of the year, or a departments. Since it is necessary to create a How many hours is it in use every month? particular track condition. The simulator model that represents the entire vehicle, each How many people are required to operate permits us to evaluate a series of sector responsible for providing a certain it? combinations and define about 80-85% of feature of the car - designing the suspension, «Part of the time the simulator is used the set-up for a car/driver pairing. And the calculating the aerodynamic performance on internally by Dallara to improve our current advantage of a simulator like the one at the computer, performing measurements in and future projects, while the rest of the time Dallara is that, rather relying simply on the wind tunnel, etc. – is obliged to work it is allocated to external customers. For calculations, it uses calculations that are towards completing the model that will be example, we are currently using it to develop evaluated in real time together with the used on the simulator. The simulator is like a the Super Formula for the 2014 season, driver. However, it will never be possible to mirror image of the real car: the various before we build the actual prototype. Our replace the uncertainty factor introduced by sectors work for the simulator, in the same own test drivers use it around 50% of the specific conditions on a specific day». way as they would on the finished car, while time, while the rest of the time it is available

22 single four hour session to several days, Do you expect to add any new circuits in during which a team may allow various 2013? different drivers to have time on the «We are increasing the number of Italian and simulator». European Formula 3 and World Series circuits, and adding extra Formula 1 circuits». Who are the most famous drivers to have used the simulator? Could you give us a brief summary of a «We’ve had the majority of drivers from GP2 typical session on the simulator? and World Series, and this includes some that «In the case of Gp2 or World Series, we play have already moved on to Formula 1, or who host to the entire team, including the data are about to. We have also hosted drivers such acquisition technicians and the drivers. as Gianmaria Bruni, who helped us to set the While a typical working day is very similar to system up. One of our most satisfied a working day on the track, a single session customers is Jean Alesi, who came to us to on the simulator is equivalent to 3-4 days of prepare for the Indianapolis 500. We have track time. If you consider that it is possible recently been expanding in the American to change the configuration in the same time market so we have also had visits from Ryan that it takes to change a spring, or that you Briscoe, Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay, can replace an entire suspension or a Marco Andretti, Scott Dixon, to name but a gearbox in a few seconds, it gives you an few». idea of how much work the teams can get through in a day on the simulator. The best Any amusing stories to tell? way to think of it is in terms of an extensive, «One of the must entertaining sessions was open test carried out by a team on the track with Kanaan, in the autumn of 2011. He over a period of a few days. In such cases, came to try out the Indycar for the following we provide the teams with all the tools they season together with his technicians; the car need to manage the machine configuration, was already in production and there were and the data that they produce, only three months to go before the teams autonomously and safely. Everything ends started taking delivery. Tony is a very up on their computers. Our role is limited to friendly person, as well as being a model providing assistance in operating the test professional, and he hit it off immediately bench”. with the Dallara personnel who were present during the tests. In fact, they got on so well How many people are required to operate that, once the session was over, he asked the simulator? which of our technicians was the best driver «In situations like the one described above, no and challenged him to a race on the more than one or two operators are simulator. Unfortunately for him, what he necessary. However, sometimes we receive didn’t know was that our man had recently requests from drivers who want to compare carried out hundreds of hours of tests, two different cars, for example drivers who setting up the model, the tyres, and the are thinking about stepping up from Formula track, so he was more than ready for him! 3 to a higher category. In this case, the driver Tony accepted his narrow defeat with a will not be accompanied by a team and will smile, and even presented his rival with the not have a pre-established test program. And gloves that he used the last time he raced in that’s where we step in: the vast majority of the Indianapolis 500 as a prize! A true our personnel have experience of working great». trackside and this means that we can help our customers to prepare a tailor-made test Have you ever tried the Dallara simulator to individual drivers, teams with more than program. If a driver wants to experience out yourself? one driver, or companies involved in specific racing conditions, practise starts, «Yes; I’m part of the model-vehicle designing racing and production cars. The experiment with tyre heating, work on development group, and we are personally simulator is used for these two purposes to exploiting the half hour qualifying period, responsible for making sure that everything varying degrees every week. Naturally, during short or long runs, we can help to implement functions as it should. Some of the other lads the racing season, we leave more time for a test plan that is designed to meet his or her at Dallara are much better than me, but I those who want to prepare for a race». specific requirements. It only takes a few have to admit that testing the GP2, taking minutes to carry out the transition from one into account the type of car that it is, and How many circuits and types of car is it car to another. The simulator features a vast driving the IndyCar round the oval at possible to test on the simulator in Varano? range of tests». Indianapolis are very special experiences». «It can be configured with all our cars: Gp2, Gp3, Formula 3, World Series, IndyCar, Grand How long does a typical day last? Admit it: have you ever had a “virtual” Am, and an ever increasing variety of tracks. “The day is divided into two four hour crash? We currently feature all the circuits used for sessions. It’s possible to get an enormous «You know how it is: a non-professional driver the Gp2 and Gp3 championships, a large amount of work done in a single session, in finds his limit by turning back after realising number of European circuits and about half fact a team can complete as many as that he has just exceeded it…». the American circuits; and we intend to keep 100/150 laps of a medium length circuit in expanding». just four hours. Testing may range from a Stefano Semeraro

23 • Consultancies, design and production of racing cars and high performance road cars.

• Aerodynamics: wind tunnel and computational fl uid dynamics (CFD).

• Research & development: vehicle dynamics and driving simulator.

Dallara is a performance partner of www.dallara.it