Jaguar turns to HP for source of aero help.

In an effort to accelerate solutions to Jaguar Racing's current aerodynamic problems, the team has turned to an increased amount of computer-based simulated wind-tunnel work.

The testing, otherwise known as 'computational fluid dynamics or CFD, is playing an important role in the team's aerodynamics programme as it attempts to overcome the deficiencies that have floored the R3's progress this season.

The intensified activities have demanded more computing 'horse-power' at short notice and for a limited time, but team sponsor . Hewlett-Packard, through its 'Renew Programme', was able to meet the demand for access to additional computer resources to complement those already in use at Jaguar's HQ in Milton Keynes.

"CFD involves the modelling of the complex airflows over a body or surface, in this case the Jaguar R3, and virtually replicates a wind tunnel inside a computer," explained John Saville, Jaguar Racing's chief information officer.

"However, it is incredibly computer intensive and can soak up massive amounts of processing resource, particularly where detailed analysis and modelling are required. The IT infrastructure implemented by HP at Jaguar Racing is highly scaleable and we knew it wouldn't be difficult to integrate additional HP J-Class workstations to speed up the team's development work, by giving them access to super-computer type processing power."

Given the challenge, HP was faced with providing a significant number of extra computers at extremely short notice, and turned to the company's HP Renew Programme marketing business.

"Based upon their knowledge of the CFD applications we are running and our current HP hardware configuration, HP's Renew Programme team quickly specified the equipment we needed and had it on site and installed within a matter of days", commented Jaguar's head of computer aided engineering Steve Nevey.

"Whilst we could of course purchase additional new computers from HP, this temporary hike in our computer resources is just what we need to address what we expect will be a short-term problem."

Team principal Niki Lauda, who, last week, confirmed that Jaguar would plough ahead with the R34 as opposed to using last year's R2 in some future races, was grateful for the long-standing relationship with HP.

"Because we have only ever had HP as our IT partner, going right back to the early days of Stewart-Ford, they know the business we are in and the kind of challenges we were facing with the new R3," the Austrian commented, "When I mentioned in Malaysia last week that our sponsors and partners were right behind this team, this is exactly the kind of support I was referring to. HP's responsiveness in delivering these extra resources from their HP Renew Programme is going to be a major benefit in our efforts to increase the car's competitiveness at a quicker rate."

Jaguar was always committed to taking the R3, which has suffered from a problem at the front of the car all season, to Interlagos for this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, but has now decided that it will continue to use the design when the F1 schedule returns to Europe for the San Marino GP next month.