Siemens Digital Industries Software has been selected by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) as “Official Digital Twin Sponsor”, as the global governing body for motor sport and federation for mobility organizations worldwide expands its use of Siemens software.
The FIA, which has welcomed Siemens into its new Global Partnership Programme, will extend its use of software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to create and refine the aerodynamic concepts that shape the regulations for single-seater race cars, from Formula 1 through to Formula 4.
Using Siemens’ Designcenter NX software, the FIA can design complex vehicle models, visualise them in lifelike detail, and iterate digitally before running computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations on the model.
This process enables the FIA to test and optimise car designs for performance and safety in a virtual environment, significantly reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing and physical wind tunnel testing.
Since 2022, the FIA aerodynamics team has used Siemens’ Designcenter NX software to generate over 14,000 individual Computer Aided Design (CAD) parts, for testing in over 10,000 CFD runs. Assessing the aerodynamics of the cars digitally has reduced the environmental impact of manufacturing prototypes and physical wind tunnel testing.
Craig Edmondson, chief commercial officer, FIA, says: “We’re proud to partner with global technology leaders like Siemens to shape the future of motor sport.
“This collaboration shows the strength of our wider partner network, where world-class brands are helping us deliver progress across performance, safety and sustainability.”
Jason Somerville, head of aerodynamics, FIA, says: “Siemens gives us the precision tools to design and test complex aerodynamic concepts virtually, reducing environmental impact while improving performance and safety.
“This technology is key to ensuring that racing remains closer, fairer, and more competitive – all while supporting our ambition to reach net zero by 2030.”
Nand Kochhar, vice president, Automotive and Transportation, Siemens Digital Industries Software, says: “We are proud to deepen our collaboration with the FIA as their Official Digital Twin Sponsor, supporting its mission to drive innovation, safety and sustainability.
“Siemens Xcelerator is enabling the FIA and its partners to design, simulate and optimize with greater precision.
“This collaboration exemplifies how digital transformation can accelerate progress toward a more sustainable and technologically advanced future for mobility.”
The FIA will also expand its use of Siemens’ Teamcenter X software for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) as its platform for managing product-related information and processes and enabling collaboration with teams across FIA’s championships.
Additionally, it will extend adoption of simulation software including Simcenter X software, which will provide access to a wider set of simulation tools including Simcenter Amesim software, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ software and Simcenter HEEDS software for design exploration and optimization.
The FIA Global Partnership Programme aims to foster collaboration with leading organizations across the world who share the FIA’s vision for driving innovation, sustainability and safety across both motor sport and mobility.
Through this collaboration, Siemens will become part of this community and support the shared ambition to pioneer technological advances across motorsport and the wider automotive sector.
Main image credit: Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)
