The Transition Era
1999 - 2011
New workshops and tracks: the development under new ownership
In 1999, the test center was acquired by "Gruppo Prototipo".
The new group initiated an expansion of the proving ground with additional tracks, workshops and offices to meet the needs of the increasing number of customers.
2000 - The workshops
In 2000, the addition of four new workshop buildings increased the total space dedicated to workshops and customer-accessible offices to around 5,000 m².
2002 - The special pavements
An important development of the test center was the construction of special pavements: six different surfaces were built for optimal testing of vehicle comfort.
2002 - The Noise Track
A further innovation was the construction of a Noise Track with a special surface for the measurement of pass-by noise.
The Handling Track
Opened in 2008, the Handling Track was initially designed with inspiration from Formula 1 circuits.
The 6,222-metre-long track features a single straight and a variety of curves with different widths and inclination. This combination enables comprehensive durability, reliability, and dynamic testing for both cars and motorcycles.
The 16 curves are named after ancient places from the Salento region, such as Leuca, Castrum, Hydruntum, Apulia, Egnatia, and Neretum.
The records
Between 2000 and 2011, the proving ground hosted numerous high-profile automotive record attempts, highlighting its worldwide reputation for endurance and high-speed testing.
These attempts underline Nardò Technical Center’s unique capability to support extreme testing across varied vehicle categories.
The foundation era
The evolution era