The University is a centre for international excellence in the field of performance sports engineering, contributing to significant UK sporting successes.
Over the past four decades, our world-leading design and test capabilities and technical expertise have led to partnerships with high-performance sports bodies around the world, including those representing competitive sailing, Formula 1, cycling, swimming and winter sports. Earlier this year we were awarded a prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for our innovation and world-leading expertise in performance sports engineering.
The Queen's Anniversary Prizes are the UK's most prestigious form of recognition for a UK academic or vocational institution, with approval from the Queen and Parliament.Our researchers' innovative approach and our world-class wind tunnel facilities helped British Skeleton athlete Amy Williams achieve her gold medal win in 2010. Her sled 'Arthur' was designed by graduate students James Roche and Rachel Blackburn, and over 200 hours of wind tunnel testing helped Amy find her optimum riding position.
The University's Wolfson Unit for Marine Technology and Industrial Aerodynamics is an innovation partner to UK Sport and contributes to sporting performance in a number of areas including cycling.
In the field of motor racing, our researchers helped pioneer the rolling road wind tunnel, the tool of choice for race and sports car development. We have developed Formula 1 World Championship-winning cars for Brabham, Tyrell, and Williams, and are still recognised as a leader in ground effect aerodynamics.
Images
> detect my location
Visit the live installation
Building 17,
(R J Mitchell Wind Tunnel)
Highfield Campus,
University of Southampton,
University Road,
Southampton,
UK.
SO17 1BJ