BMW expands technology partnership with the German Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton Federation (BSD) and develops two-man bobsled prototype for the BSD.

  • BMW takes technology partnership with the
    German Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton Federation
    to a new level.
  • BMW develops two-man bobsled prototype for new Olympic cycle.
  • First tests on the ice track planned for the end of the year.

 

Munich. BMW and the German Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton
Federation (BSD) have been engaged in an intensive collaboration
since the 1980s, during which time they have worked closely together
to optimise equipment, race overalls and helmets. Since 2010, BMW
has been Premium and Technology Partner, a role that has seen the
Munich-based company use its automotive expertise to help the
federation win numerous medals and titles. The technological support
gained from the BMW engineers is now being expanded and a two-man
bobsled prototype developed for Germany. The first tests on the ice
track are planned for the end of 2018.

In the past, the BSD has been able to build on BMW engineering
expertise in the fields of aerodynamics, ergonomics and structural
analysis when developing its equipment. BMW is now going one step
further for the 2022 Olympic campaign and is working with the BSD to
develop a two-man bob prototype.

BMW has always been known for its pioneering spirit and innovation –
two attributes that have always guaranteed that BMW automotive
expertise could be successfully applied to high-tech racing sports,
such as the America’s Cup (competitive sailing). Working together with
the technical experts and BSD drivers, this transfer will now benefit
the bobsleigh sport. The first step is the development of a so-called
“innovation driver”, with which various technical concepts are tried
out. A modified measurement system at BMW Motorsport is used to
analyse the performance of the technical innovations.

“This year, we enjoyed a dream amount of success at the Olympic
Games. However, the close results showed that we cannot afford to rest
on our laurels and that our competitors are striving with all their
strength to catch and pass us,” says Thomas Schwab, Secretary General
and Sport Director of the BSD. “In BMW, we have a technology partner
that knows full well that every success is merely the motivation for
more ideas and concepts. As such, we are delighted to be able to take
another innovative approach with the BMW prototype.”

“The positive experience of the 2018 Olympic campaign showed how
successful it is to use competing sledding concepts,” says head
bobsleigh coach René Spies. “We are very much looking forward to
trying out a new perspective in bob development with our partner BMW.
We are in a fortunate position with the technical development, in that
we are able to benefit from their extensive expertise in automobile
manufacturing, as well as the unique infrastructure.”

Thomas Hahn, who is responsible for the technology transfer at BMW,
explains: “Aerodynamics, chassis development and carbon fabrication
are areas in which BMW is working at the highest level – and which are
also extremely important for a racing sled. Together with the
practical experience of the BSD technical experts and drivers, we have
an innovation platform with which we can test innovative systems and
components. We are excited to see how the bob performs in its first
test runs and are really looking forward to the exciting further
development over the coming years.”

The livery of the BMW bob also underlines the genes from automobile
research and development. In the traditional BSD colours of yellow and
black, the design is reminiscent of the “Dazzle” pattern, which adorns
camouflaged prototype BMW vehicles.

The new BSD two-man bobsled is not the first of its kind to be
developed using BMW technological expertise. BMW of North America and
the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation worked closely together to
develop the two-man bob that, in 2014, won the first Olympic bob medal
in 62 years for the United States.