UK manufacturers of advanced surface protection are hoping to help a European Olympic team reach medal-status, at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, which opened today (Friday 9 February 2018).
Gtechniq, creators of ceramic paint protection and world-renowned detailing products, are backing the Czech Republic’s Bobsleigh Team, using the same coating as a number of Formula One race teams.
C0 Aerocoat was applied to the teams two bobsleighs by Accredited Detailers Wrapstyle Zlín, in the Czech Republic, who also wrapped the sleighs in a vibrant blue, white, and red design.
Jan Tureček, CEO of Wrapstle Zlín, said: “We were contacted directly by the bobsleigh team, who were looking for an eye-catching design for their 2017 bob. They knew what we as a company were capable of, so came to us for something that would really stand-out.
“One of our additional services as a company is detailing, we therefore decided to coat the sleigh and give it extra protection. And decided to use Gtechniq Areocoat for its aerodynamic properties –I mean it’s a coating used for Formula One teams to help with performance – so it will help the bobsleigh.”
Gtechniq C0 Aerocoat was scientifically designed for the motorsports industry to prevent discarded rubber from the cars’ tyres sticking on to the wings, an occurrence which would disrupt the carefully studied aero flow and negatively affect the overall aerodynamic efficiency of a racing car. Timing is everything in bobsleigh events, and it is hoped that the drag-reducing properties will make the bobsleighs even faster than before – gliding through the ice and air for Olympic victory.
Rob Earle, managing director of Gtechniq and scientific formulator of the coating, said: “What a great move by Wrapstyle Zlín – a bob is designed to an incredible degree of precision and it is crucial to maintain all the surfaces in the correct condition, so they behave as originally designed. Let’s hope our coating goes some way to helping the Czech Team bring home a medal.”
You can see the Czech sleds hit the Alpensia Sliding Centre, a purpose built 2,018 meter long track, between 15th and 25th February 2018.