Last November we heard that German automaker BMW was developing a bobsled through its BMW DesignworksUSA branch, and this week the first photos were released. Apparently two prototypes have been built and while the first one race, this was reportedly to test the aerodynamics. The second prototype has just started racing.
It won’t be used in next year’s 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games, but the prototype will help the Designworks team make tweaks to build a production sled. And there seems to be room for improvement.
The prototype was raced on Saturday, January 19 by the US Men’s Bobsled Team at the FIBT World Cup in Igls, Austria, and placed 14th out of 30 teams. Given that this was the first time the sled was used that isn’t a bad showing, but apparently the designers think they can take the carbon fiber-bodied sled even further.
BMW Press Release
Team USA: Butner and Drbal lead U.S. team in fifth; Holcomb and Tomasevicz unveil BMW prototype