BMW designers, working in close collaboration with Team USA athletes and coaches designed and developed the racing wheel chair which is set to make its competitive debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The new racing wheelchair features modernised aerodynamic efficiencies, carbon fibre material, a complete chassis redesign and a personalised approach for customised athlete fit.
Brad Cracchiola, Associate Director, BMW Group DesignWorks said;
Working on this project has been a truly rewarding experience for my team and we’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in the last year and half with these athletes and their coaches, from fittings and immersion sessions, to data analysis and real-time testing, we had the unique opportunity to build a fully customised racing device. We’re eager to complete the final product and look forward to watching Team USA compete.
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With the help of Team USA athletes, BMW will work over the next few months to continue to adjust and improve the wheelchair in the lead up to the Games. The final fleet of wheelchairs for use in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games is slated to be delivered to the U.S. Paralympics track and field racers in the summer of 2016.
The company has been implementing its resources to advance the training and performance goals of Team USA since signing on as a sponsor in 2010. The BMW racing wheelchair is the company’s fourth technology transfer project, following the delivery of a two-man bobsled which helped Team USA overcome a 62-year medal drought at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.