A new milestone at the ZalaZONE Proving Ground: in a few weeks, one of the largest and most innovative elements of the AVL-ZalaZONE test facility, the High-Speed Oval, will be completed. Before the official opening planned for May 14, press representatives had the opportunity to view and test the new track on Saturday, April 19. During the press tour, Dr. László Palkovics, the creator of the test track, former Minister of Innovation and Technology, and currently government commissioner responsible for artificial intelligence development, as well as László Vigh, Member of Parliament, showcased the capabilities of the oval track.
László Palkovics highlighted that the track is almost entirely finished and provides all testing possibilities for vehicle manufacturers in one location. The uniqueness of the oval track lies in its European-unique technology, which allows for precise parabolic curves. The 4.5-kilometer-long track offers excellent opportunities for testing vehicle dynamics, steering, and fuel consumption both at neutral speed (200 km/h) and at maximum speed (280 km/h). This is particularly important for vehicle development, as it enables observation of cars’ behaviour, stability, and functioning of various features at high speeds.
The oval track is divided into four sections—two straight and two curved segments—each 3.75 meters wide. The track features a parabolic cross-slope, ensuring stability and safe high-speed testing, while the varying neutral speeds per lane (ranging from 21 km/h to 181 km/h) allow vehicles to be tested at different speeds without significant side acceleration affecting their behaviour. Vigh László emphasized that the track is 99% complete, but ongoing developments and expansions are underway to increase capacity and improve technical infrastructure according to customer needs.
The significance of the oval track lies in its ability to enable vehicle developers to conduct fast and precise testing, which is one of the most critical challenges facing the future of the automotive industry. Before the official opening, spectacular demonstrations are planned, and the public will soon have the opportunity to learn about the innovative features of the track. The ZalaZONE Automotive Proving Ground continues to aim at maintaining its role as a leading European automotive hub, supporting technological advancement and the development of sustainable mobility.
Photos: Médiacentrum Zalaegerszeg