A subterranean vehicle test track, hidden away from the prying eyes of industry competitors, has opened.
The 拢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鈥檚 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 鈥 who founded Cosworth Engineering in 1958 with Keith Duckworth, powering the same Lotus driven Mario Andretti to the 1978 F1 World 鈥 and Peter Wright who worked alongside them.
Jon Paton, group leader at Catesby Projects, the company behind the site, said: 鈥淲e are really proud to see the tunnel open and ready for customers.
鈥淭o have automotive and motorsport customers start to use the tunnel and to find out for themselves what makes Catesby so powerful is really exciting.鈥
Work started on the tunnel in February 1895 and it was completed 鈥 using around 30 million bricks 鈥 in May 1897.
The line was part of the Great Central鈥檚 鈥楲ondon Extension鈥 with the first train running through in July 1898. It was in service until September 1966.
A spokesman for the project said: 鈥淐atesby Tunnel is set to become the worldwide benchmark for aerodynamic testing and vehicle development.
鈥淭he facility is expected to attract customers from Europe and the rest of the world.
鈥淭he development will enhance the capabilities of the 海角视频 vehicle industry and provide a base for the commercialisation of new technology, innovation and R&D.鈥
It was created with 拢4.2 million of investment from the Government鈥檚 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.
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