The BMW Group’s Energy and Environmental Test Centre in Munich has been put to work testing the Olympic Torch ahead of its 70 day Olympic Relay around the UK.
The Test Centre which brings some of the world’s most extreme weather systems into one building is normally used to examine the performance of BMW Group vehicles. The three wind tunnels and two climatic test chambers are able to imitate hostile environments from around the world in one single laboratory. With a temperature range of -20C to +55C, BMW can replicate the Arctic Tundra and the Sahara Desert, while the wind speeds of up to 280 km/h are greater than those generated in most hurricanes.
BMW, as the Official Automotive Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and an expert in efficiency and state-of-the-art testing, was an obvious choice to house a bespoke range of tests developed by LOCOG and the engineering partner of the Olympic Torch, Tecosim.
As the Olympic Torch travels around the UK, it will have to stay alight in all British weather conditions including freezing temperatures at the summit of Snowdon, winds on the Shetland Islands and the summer heat of the South coast of England, not to mention the inevitable summer shower. The Olympic Torch will be more than prepared to deal with all weather conditions. The Torch stood up to some extreme weather conditions at the BMW facility, enduring -5C to +40C temperatures, +50mph winds, snow and rain. The Olympic Torch stayed lit throughout.
Mystery Shopping and Performance Improvement Company, Douglas Stafford, have been working in partnership with BMW for over 10 years and are proud to be associated with the company. Douglas Stafford are in full support of BMW and their Sponsorship of the 2012 Olympics.