Henri Pescarolo is again using light space composite materials to reduce the overall weight of his cars, as well as high-temperature insulation fabrics from Europe's launcher Ariane to increase safety.

Why does ESA try out their advanced technologies in automobile racing? "Technological improvements are needed to make automobiles still more safe, reliable and comfortable," says Pierre Brisson, Head of ESA's Technology Transfer and Promotion Office, "and our exotic space technologies have already proven to be able to provide innovative and very solid solutions on Earth."

"We started the cooperation with Henri Pescarolo two years ago to demonstrate how space technology can provide innovative solutions for endurance racing," explains Brisson. "Together we identified several areas where space technologies could improve race performance, safety aspects and driver comfort."

Pescarolo Sport concluded the 2003 race season well, with their space-technology enhanced cars: they won two FIA Sportscar Championship races, came second in another, and finished eighth and ninth position in the legendary 24-hour Le Mans race out of 50 competitors.

Presenting his new car for this season, Pescarolo-Judd, to the press in Paris last week Henri Pescarolo said, "Based on our good experience last year, we have chosen to continue with the same sophisticated materials from space."

"The major change is that this year we use a V10 5 litre Judd engine. The body is basically the same, but we have further improved the aerodynamics. Weight has been reduced by the use of space composite materials from ESA and we are still using the special insulation materials, also from ESA, to reduce heat diffusion." Good start to the 2004 season The high performance of the new Pescarolo car has already been demonstrated at the first real trials of the new season at the Paul Ricard circuit in France 6-7 April. The three Pescarolo Sport drivers Sebastien Bourdais, Soheil Ayari and Emanuel Collard between them easily clocked 797 km during the two-day exercise. The team was overtaken by only one other team, the Audi R8 Goh team, which was a mere three-tenths of a second faster.

"Rather reassuring!" concluded Henri Pescarolo after the two trial days, "I am convinced that with the right tires and adequate adjustments, we would have driven as quickly as Audi."

Space technologies onboard Pescarolo-Judd car The Pescarolo team used two distinct space technologies. Very light but still extremely strong carbon composite materials used by ESA to build satellites were inserted into the body structure. Last year this resulted in a car 29 kg lighter. This year the team optimised the body to get an even better aerodynamic performance and, by using this space material, managed to slice another 9 kg off the overall weight.

André de Cortanze, Technical Director of Pescarolo Sport, emphasised the importance of weight by saying, "Performance to weight ratio is vital in racing. Having a lighter body with space materials makes it possible for us to optimise weight distribution, resulting in an improved overall performance."

Insulation materials from the European Ariane launcher are used to limit heat transmission from engine and exhaust system to petrol tank and drivers cockpit.

"Cooperating with Henri Pescarolo we can put our technologies under extreme stress in an automobile environment. Once they have confirmed their worth in tough races like Le Mans and Paris-Dakar, they will find their way into the mass-produced cars we all use every day, enhancing comfort and reliability, and more importantly, contributing to greater overall safety on our roads" concluded Brisson at the press conference.

Pescarolo's space-material-enhanced racing car will compete in all four 1,000 km Le Mans Endurance Series races and at Le Mans 24-hour race. The first challenge is at the Monza racetrack 8-9 May.

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• Space Station
• ESA
• Astronomy

• Aviation
• Vehicles
• Materials Science

• Space observatory
• Solid-fuel rocket
• European Space Agency
• Alternative fuel vehicle
• Automobile emissions control
• Space debris