Ing Renault F1 Team Chooses Appro Xtreme-X Supercomputer in UK

Appro, Milpitas, Calif., (http://www.appro.com/), a provider of high-performance enterprise computing systems, has been awarded a contract for a 38TF Appro Xtreme-X(TM) Supercomputer for the ING Renault F1 Team Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Centre, a brand new modern technology-driven research facility designed to place Renault "in the pole position" in Formula 1 competition. This award marks another milestone for Appro's supercomputers in international HPC markets. The Appro Xtreme-X2 Supercomputer will be shipped and installed by Appro at the Renault F1 CFD Centre in the UK by the end of June, 2008. Appro's supercomputer will provide the ING Renault F1 Team's CFD Centre with a five-fold increase in CFD computing capacity with the ability to run full-car simulations in addition to the aerodynamic testing of components such as the front and rear wings, turning vanes, brake ducts, fuel tanks and more. Appro's Xtreme-X2 meets the capability computing and high availability requirements needed for the new CFD Centre computational resources. At current conservative development rates, the expanded facility will provide 50% of the gains of a fully-efficient mature wind-tunnel for less than 50% of the investment. With this added computing capacity provided by Xtreme-X2, the Renault F1 Team will generate a measurable competitive advantage to further establish the company as a technology leader in Formula 1 racing. The Supercomputer will also be used to expand the current computational support for Renault F1's integration into the Renault-Nissan group's research and development efforts. This integration means a valuable CFD resource will be made available at minimum cost to other business units for research beyond Formula 1.