October 2025 issue is now available online! Packed full of news, interviews and features, including:

Exclusive interview:: FIA presidential contender Tim Mayer shares his thoughts on why the lower rungs of the motorsport ladder are key to the long-term health of the industry.

F1 2026 investigated : As Formula 1 prepares for sweeping regulation changes in 2026, PMW provides an update on how these will affect the design and development of chassis and power unit.

New blood for GT2 : Ginetta is confident that the latest evolution of its G56 platform provides a potent and cost-effective option for GT2 racers.

Race to road embodied : The second of RML’s Bespoke range of vehicles, the GT Hypercar, aims to be the ultimate road and track machine.

Expert insight: WRC : With new regulations coming to WRC’s top class in 2027, former FIA road sport director Andrew Wheatley – who was instrumental in their formulation – discusses how we got here.

Stockcar safety simulation : NASCAR has long been at the forefront of motorsport safety, and is still breaking new ground in the virtual age.

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The post In this Issue – October 2025 appeared first on Professional Motorsport World.

Bugatti demands nothing less than perfection from each example of its Bugatti W16 Mistral, which undergoes an exhaustive and uncompromising quality assessment process before it is delivered to its owner. At the heart of the testing exercise lies a protocol that subjects each vehicle to a minimum of 400km of evaluation across the diverse landscapes of Alsace, ensuring that every example meets the high standards of the marque.

A 350km test route through the picturesque Alsatian countryside serves as an amphitheater for evaluating the W16 Mistral’s capabilities. On the carefully curated route, every component undergoes individual testing, taking the fit, feel and functionality of features within the cockpit, as well as the precision of the steering system’s response and return characteristics, into consideration.

A route designed to challenge: open road testing

The route includes traditional Alsatian villages, winding country roads that test the W16 Mistral’s agility, long highway stretches intended to evaluate stability and comfort during sustained cruising, and mountain passes that challenge the powertrain under a range of elevation and atmospheric conditions.

Bugatti has carefully selected the route to reflect the full spectrum of real-world scenarios a customer may encounter to test the driving experience. This includes the technical challenge of cobblestone surfaces that can reveal the slightest chassis irregularity, to open stretches where the W16 engine can reach its crescendo in the open-air cockpit.

Testing beyond functionality

The validation process extends beyond mechanical systems and encompasses the complete sensory experience. Noise testing occurs across multiple scenarios including evaluation with and without the soft-top roof, analysis of wind and road noise characteristics, assessment of the exhaust system’s acoustic signature and verification of chassis and tire rolling dynamics.

Transmission behavior also receives dedicated attention, with technicians analyzing gear changes during acceleration, deceleration and varying load conditions. Every part of the surrounding environment is used in the pursuit of perfection, including the narrow streets lined with ancient stone buildings, which create natural acoustic chambers for Bugatti’s test drivers, using the echo against walls to analyze every nuance of the vehicle’s sound profile.

Three qualified specialists

Only a select few specialists take on the mantle of such a rigorous assessment journey. Currently, only three experts possess the full qualification and dedication required to conduct W16 Mistral quality appraisal. These evaluators together represent decades of accumulated knowledge, with each new test driver undergoing an intensive training regime, including several supervised test drives alongside senior experts and fully autonomous assessments encompassing comprehensive sensory analysis.

This human-centric approach reflects Bugatti’s fundamental methodology: 90% of quality validation is derived from the driver’s personal analysis and sensory interpretation through sight, sound and touch. The three automotive specialists possess the ability to detect the slightest irregular sound, identifying unknown vibrations often imperceptible to untrained senses. These are sounds that could indicate developing issues. Their mechanical understanding enables accurate detection and diagnosis of an anomaly early on.

Each observation is meticulously recorded via a dictaphone during the drive for a follow up in-depth analysis, and when necessary, followed by partial or complete vehicle disassembly. The remaining 10% of the evaluation uses electronic diagnostics – a combination of Bugatti’s internal telemetry systems and data loggers are used to continuously monitor and record all performance metrics throughout the test drive.

The circuit arena: closed-road testing

Moving from the open road to a closed-circuit arena, the testing program culminates with high-speed track sessions at the Colmar airfield, where Bugatti maintains an exclusive 1,600m partnership facility. At this site, emergency braking systems, electronic stability program (ESP) and anti-lock braking system (ABS) undergo evaluation at speeds reaching 300km/h.

For this, the Mistral’s removable roof mechanism demands additional layers of testing. Every aspect of the roof’s fit, removal process and high-speed resistance undergoes scrutiny. Only with the roof removed can the roadster achieve its top speed, enabling the quad-turbocharged W16’s 1,600ps to express itself without constraint.

The iterative nature of Bugatti’s assessment method is designed to ensure absolute perfection. Following the identification and resolution of any irregularities, regardless of how minor, a secondary verification test of typically 50km or more is conducted to confirm whether the corrections made have been effective. This process repeats as many times as necessary until the vehicle demonstrates what Bugatti deems a flawless performance, under every conceivable condition.

This article was first published on Bugatti.com

In related news, Ian Haigh, Ian Haigh, solutions group manager at Ansible Motion, discusses the critical role of DIL simulation in F1

The post Bugatti reveals the W16 Mistral quality assessment program appeared first on Professional Motorsport World.

Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe, the world’s largest hydrogen trade fair, has announced a new long-term partnership with Hamburg Messe + Congress (HMC) and a move to Hamburg from 2024. The annual event, which currently takes place in Bremen, Germany, already attracts more than 500 international exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in the hydrogen industry and thousands of attendees from around the world.

The partnership with HMC is expected to further extend Hydrogen Technology Expo’s rapid growth rate in 2024 and beyond, cementing its place as the world’s largest international platform to see the latest innovations for the entire hydrogen value chain.

“Hydrogen Technology Expo is thrilled to partner with Hamburg Messe + Congress for our 2024 event,” said CEO Mike Robinson. “Hamburg is internationally recognized as a leader in the renewable energy sector and hosts many important hydrogen projects. Hamburg Messe + Congress’s expertise and world-class facilities will help us to deliver an even more impactful event for our exhibitors and allow us to attract even more international visitors.”

Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe has become the premier event for the global hydrogen industry, providing a platform for businesses and organizations to showcase their latest products, services and research in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.

“The new partnership with HMC is a great opportunity for Hydrogen Technology Expo,” said event director Charlie Brandon. “It will allow us to further extend our expertise in the hydrogen sector and bring the international industry together to explore even more technologies and new solutions that will advance the industry.”

Hamburg is already internationally recognized as a world-leading hub for renewable energy and low-carbon hydrogen, as well as a pioneer within sustainable mobility – especially among the shipping and aerospace industries. HMC, organizer of WindEnergy Hamburg (the world’s leading wind industry event) and SMM (the leading international maritime trade fair), is excited about the new partnership with Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe – Hamburg’s third global flagship fair.

“We are proud to establish the world’s largest networking platform for the hydrogen sector at the exhibition hub of Hamburg together with our partner, Trans-Global Events, from 2024,” emphasized Bernd Aufderheide, president and CEO of HMC. “For us and the hydrogen metropolis of Hamburg, this cooperation partnership is a milestone achievement that will drive new H2  technologies and processes as we face the energy challenges of the future. The city’s projects and infrastructure, combined with our centrally located, state-of-the-art exhibition campus, provide an ideal environment for this leading global trade fair to take place regularly and grow further.”

The topics addressed by H2 Expo & Conference, HMC’s own networking event for the international hydrogen community, will be integrated into Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe, enhancing its portfolio. With the two events about to merge, HMC will forgo holding the H2 Expo & Conference originally planned for June 2023.

Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe 2024 will attract industry leaders, policymakers and researchers from around the world, and will provide a unique opportunity to explore the latest trends and innovations in the hydrogen industry and network with like-minded professionals.

“We look forward to welcoming exhibitors and visitors to our 2024 event in Hamburg,” added Brandon. “Together with Hamburg Messe + Congress, we are committed to delivering an exceptional event that will drive progress and innovation in the hydrogen industry.”

Hydrogen Technology Expo will continue to be held in conjunction with Carbon Capture Technology Expo, which is the leading event for CCUS and carbon reduction technology. The partnership aims to address the pressing need for carbon removal solutions and to promote blue hydrogen production.

With this collaboration, the two expos will provide a unique opportunity for industry professionals, researchers, policymakers and stakeholders to explore a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and strategies. Attendees will gain insights into advances in CCUS, carbon reduction and blue hydrogen, all of which will play crucial roles in achieving future net-zero and carbon reduction targets.

The dates for the 2024 Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe have been set for October 22-24 and the show is due to return to Hamburg’s exhibition campus annually thereafter.

For more information on the 2024 Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe and the partnership with Hamburg Messe, visit the event website: www.hydrogen-worldexpo.com

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Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe, held on October 20 and 21 at Messe Bremen, Germany, is Europe’s must-attend conference and exhibition that is exclusively dedicated to discussing advanced technologies for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry.

The event will bring together the entire hydrogen value chain to focus on developing solutions and innovations for low-carbon hydrogen production, efficient storage and distribution, as well as applications in a variety of stationary and mobile applications. The event offers attendees the opportunity to meet the companies that are pioneering the latest technologies and engineering solutions in the exhibition, find new suppliers and engineering partners, hear the latest research in the conference and network with leading industry experts.

As well as the main exhibition, Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe will host Europe’s must-attend techno-economic conference with three individual tracks focusing on the development of low-carbon hydrogen production, storage and infrastructure development; fuel cell design, development and manufacturing; and carbon capture, utilization and storage.

The event takes place alongside Carbon Capture Technology Conference & Expo, featuring a total of three conference tracks that will take place simultaneously with conference attendees and speakers having the option to move freely between the different sessions. Delegates, speakers and sponsors will have access to presentations, the exhibit area and the post-event proceedings. The exhibition will showcase the latest technologies, R&D tools, materials, infrastructure solutions, storage solutions and monitoring and safety equipment.

Several companies involved in the event are Shell Energies, Total Energies, Siemens Energy but the exhibition will play host to more than 100 exhibitors, including leading names such as Baker Hughes, Technip Energies, Evonik, Nel, Thyssenkrupp, Johnson Matthey, GE Power, and many more, each showcasing their very latest innovations, technologies and solutions for a low-carbon hydrogen future.

Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe is proud to announce that Jörn Ernst, project developer at Siemens, will be speaking at the event, as well as Achim Moritz, vice president, product management, fuel cell mobility solutions and innovations, Robert Bosch GmbH.

Guido Schwartz, strategy and innovation lead at Airbus, will also be speaking, and Bart Biebuyck, executive director, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) will be a key speaker too.

Panel discussions include: “What’s Holding Hydrogen Back? Investment Or Technology?”, “Fueling And Supplying Heavy-Duty Transport”, “Are Fuel Cells Now A Viable Challenger?” and “Unlocking The Potential For Fuel Cell Automation”.

For more information about Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe 2021, visit:
https://www.hydrogen-worldexpo.com/

To register for your free exhibition pass, click here.

To attend the conference, click here.

*Please note Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe was originally scheduled to take place in the summer (June 9, 10) but due to concerns over the coronavirus and in response to official German government policy, the decision was taken to reschedule the event for the autumn (October 20, 21).

The post Dates confirmed for Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe: In person on October 20-21 at Messe Bremen, Germany appeared first on Professional Motorsport World.

The grand finale of this season’s Formula E Championship begins this week, with the former Berlin Tempelhof Airport (GER) set to host six races in nine days . The packed schedule poses new challenges for teams, including BMW i Andretti Motorsport. In this interview, conducted by BWM Motorsport team principal Roger Griffiths outlines the team’s activities during its enforced racing break and the logistics challenges of a compressed season finale.

Can you describe what happened since the team’s return from Marrakesh at the beginning of March?
Despite the team being unable to physically work together we have been communicating effectively and therefore developing the BMW iFE.20 over the last four months. A significant amount of time has gone into developing our tools, procedures and processes. We have also been able to do a lot more in-depth analysis of our past performances and learn a lot from that.

How were you able to work in the last few months?
The team was already very adept at working remotely as that is really how we have been working for the last few seasons. With the Andretti engineering group spread around Europe and the USA and with the BMW engineers based in Munich we already had been effectively utilizing conference calling, various communications apps and remote connectivity. So for us, it was really no change from the norm.

When did you get the equipment back after Marrakesh and what did you do with it?
The equipment came back in early June. We were concerned that the cars might be suffering from several months of being left unattended but I think we were fortunate with the condition we found them. The cars have been run up to confirm all was well initially, but then we have been able to completely rebuild them ready for the last races. We also took the opportunity to make some minor upgrades to the garage and also ensure we are Covid-19 compliant in terms of our future work environment.

What did the preparation for Berlin look like?
Really it is no different to any other race preparation. We have been looking at last season to see what we could improve, performing many simulations to make sure we have the best car configuration – at least for the one layout we know from last year.

Six races in nine days: what does that mean for you from a logistical perspective?
Logistically it is actually quite straight forward, not having to build and tear down the garage multiple times and transport the equipment and personnel. From a work load it will be tough as there is not much time between the various races so it will be key to make sure that we all minimize the amount of unnecessary work. Anyway, I think you will see a lot of tired faces by the end of the last race.

The limitations for personnel on site are very strict. How do you deal with it?
The FIA and Formula E have been very clear on the numbers and we have known for a little while that we will have to operate differently. In the end, it was all about damage limitation. We looked closely at what roles really couldn’t be done without physically being with the car and what ones could be done remotely without losing too much expertise on-site. That really guided our decision as to who would be attending.

Obviously, when you don’t have a crowd, media, sponsors and other guests then you don’t need to bring the staff to support that aspect. I know it is tough on some of the engineers and other staff as they are all racers and would really love to be with the team but this is the reality of what we have to do to be able to race in Berlin so we accept it.

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