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TÜV SÜD tests the world's fastest rollercoaster

18 January 2011

High speed through the desert

Munich. The international service provider TÜV SÜD ensures safety at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. The experts accompanied the theme park from its planning to its opening date. The absolute highlight was the final approval testing of the Formula Rossa – the world's fastest rollercoaster.

From zero to 240 kilometres per hour in 4.5 seconds feels like Formula 1 for passengers riding the Formula Rossa. The world's fastest rollercoaster is located in Abu Dhabi's Ferrari World, in direct proximity to the Emirate's Formula 1 racetrack. This proximity is reflected not only in the name of the rollercoaster, but also in the design of its cars, made to look like Formula 1 racing cars. To ensure that safety will not fall by the wayside during the high-speed race through the desert, TÜV SÜD accompanied the Formula Rossa rollercoaster on behalf of its manufacturer Intamin from the planning stage to the opening date.

"We carried out full testing in accordance with the EN 13814 standard for Fairground and Amusement Park Rides and Structures", says Project Manager Thomas Uhrig from the Amusement Rides and Structures department of TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. This includes review of technical documents, quality assurance during production and final approval testing before the rollercoaster is placed into service. "The biggest challenge of this ride lies in the enormous amount of energy released within a very short time, which must be safely controlled", explains Uhrig. "After all, the hydraulic cable winch-based drive system of the Formula Rossa has a power of roughly 24,000 kW or 32,000 HP. "As the amusement ride is a highly complex technical system, experts from various disciplines had to work together in this project. "Nine colleagues, all of them specialists in their respective disciplines, were occupied in reviewing the documentation over several months" reports the TÜV SÜD expert. "During extensive final approval testing on site in Abu Dhabi, three colleagues worked over a period of ten days."

The Amusement Rides and Structures team carried out final approval testing not only on the Formula Rossa, but also on twelve other attractions at Ferrari World. For Amusement Rides and Structures experts, the job in Abu Dhabi was – almost – routine. "We carry out final approval testing and periodic inspection of amusement rides and structures across the world", reports the TÜV SÜD expert. The company's key customers include amusement parks in Europe, the USA, Asia and now also the Middle East. The Amusement Rides and Structures department looks back on a long history. It was founded in 1929 to test the rides and structures on the Munich Oktoberfest. Then as now, the TÜV SÜD experts still carry out these test and inspections on behalf of the capital of Bavaria, ensuring safe fun for all.