With ANSYS simulation in the driver's seat, Ferrari raced past the competition to secure the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship drivers', teams' and manufacturers' titles in the GTE Pro class.
Ferrari secured its 17th endurance world title this past weekend during the Sao Paulo 6 Hours at Interlagos race. Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilanderhad secured the drivers' title, while the Amato Ferrari-run AF Corse squad took the team title for a third consecutive year.
"Ferrari has once again proven the power of engineering simulation – when combined with great products and great driving," said Gilles Eggenspieler, senior product manager for the fluids line at ANSYS. "We're honored to count them among our customers and are even more excited to see what the team does in 2015."
ANSYS computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions help Ferrari maintain best-in-class aerodynamic performance, including reducing overall drag, maximizing downforce and optimizing its complex brake cooling systems – essential elements in keeping the car running properly. As a result, Ferrari engineers have extensively automated the simulation process and run multiple design iterations to improve speed, reliability and safety.
"When races can stretch from six to 24 hours, car reliability is absolutely crucial," said Enrico Cardile, responsible for aerodynamics, thermal management and air conditioning at Ferrari. "With ANSYS simulation, our engineers can quickly evaluate a range of product design ideas across varied operating conditions, leading to enhanced product performance and integrity."
