Asia's longest high-speed test track for automobiles at Pithampur near Indore, was thrown open for testing vehicles on Tuesday.
The new track has been designed for neutral speeds of up to 250 kmph and a maximum speed of up to 375 kmph on curbs with no limit to maximum speed on the straight patch. The zero per cent longitudinal slope makes this track an open-air test laboratory for precise measurement of the performance of vehicles.
The test track, inaugurated virtually by Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Prakash Javdekar, will ensure that vehicles can be tested and evaluated in India and do not need to be sent overseas for testing. Moreover, the track is open to having vehicles from overseas being evaluated here as part of the testing process.
NATRAX is developed in an area of 1,000 acres of land and measures 11.3 km in length. It is part of a world-class proving ground that comprises other test tracks for automotive and component testing. The new high-speed test track is oval-shaped and 16 metres wide with four independent lanes. The track is the longest in Asia and fifth-largest in the world, the ministry’s statement said.
The ministry statement said the track is a one-stop solution for all sorts of high-speed performance tests for widest categories of vehicles from two wheelers to heavy tractor-trailers.
The NATRAX centre has multiple test capabilities like measurements of maximum speed, acceleration, constant speed fuel consumption, emission tests through real road driving simulation, high-speed handling and stability evaluation during manoeuvring such as lane change, high speed durability testing, etc. and is a centre of excellence for vehicle dynamics, according to an official statement by the ministry.
The NATRAX high-speed test track is open to all kinds of vehicles, while the facility will be given for commercial events like product launches, supercar racing, and dealer events.
NATRAX further stated that manufacturers including Volkswagen, FCA (Stellantis), Renault, Peugeot and Lamborghini have shown their interest to use this facility.
