The Pininfarina Wind Tunnel is since 1972 a center of excellence for the research and development in the aerodynamic and aero-acoustic sector. To support the research activities, up-to-date devices and advanced measuring techniques are available. The Wind Tunnel mainly operates on 1:1 scale vehicles, in the aerodynamic and aero-acoustic sectors, but another important activity field is the one of the Wind Engineering (aerodynamic studies on buildings, industrial equipment, bridges, sunshades, …) and of the aerodynamic research in sports. Along the years many aerodynamic tests have been carried out in the Pininfarina Wind Tunnel: for the Formula 1, for motorcycling and for the sports equipment of world-class athletes. In the Grugliasco Research Centre, the cyclist Francesco Moser prepared the world hour record, the climber Reinhold Messner tested his high-altitude tent, the ski champion Isolde Kostner tested the suit she was wearing when she got on the podium for the first time, Daniela Ceccarelli prepared herself for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games of Salt Lake City (where she was awarded with the gold medal in the Supergiant), the French skier Antoine Dénériaz carried out aerodynamic tests on his suit Anzi Besson which he was wearing in the men’s downhill at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games. Also sports equipment designed by Pininfarina Extra, as the golf clubs Mizuno and the ski boots Lange have undergone tests in the Wind Tunnel. And it is worth mentioning the great success of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games, for which Pininfarina designed and developed the Torch, also tested in the Wind Tunnel, and the Cauldron.
