Use of ANSYS Software by BMW Sauber F1 Team Commended by MITcon Manufacturing IT Awards

CANONSBURG, Pa., Sept. 17, 2008 -ANSYS, Inc. , a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, today announced that a strategy of the BMW Sauber F1 Team to increase the reliance on engineering simulation software from ANSYS for its demanding racing car design and development program has been recognized by judges of the MITcon Manufacturing IT Awards, held by Manufacturing Computer Solutions magazine. The annual awards recognize and reward the very best IT implementations and strategies in the manufacturing industry. An independent panel of judges “highly commended” the BMW Sauber F1 Team for its use of software from ANSYS in the awards’ Engineering Design and Development category.

Formula One (F1) racing is the most high-profile and technologically advanced motor sport in the world. A number of F1 teams use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software from ANSYS in conjunction with other technologies, such as wind tunnel testing for physical experimentation, to help them design the most aerodynamic and efficient racing car. What differentiates the BMW Sauber F1 Team is that it chose to achieve competitive advantage over more established rivals by making a decisive move to increase its reliance on engineering simulation software from ANSYS by investing in performing simulations on its Intel dual- and quad-core processor-based supercomputer, rather than investing in a second wind tunnel as many other F1 teams have. The decision allowed the BMW Sauber F1 Team to run complex simulations to investigate and analyze performance faster than ever before, helping them design the best racing car possible. The results of the BMW Sauber F1 Team's strategy to increase investment in its simulation environment including software from ANSYS, Intel-based hardware, and Swiss high-performance computing (HPC) manufacturer Dalco's know-how and skills were hugely impressive, with the team doubling its points score in last season's 2007 Constructors’ Championship compared to 2006, giving the team an unprecedented second place final position in the Constructors’ Championship standings.

"Our senior panel of independent judges was impressed with the BMW Sauber F1 Team’s delivery of world-class business improvements, as the entry passed our initial judging process with flying colors. The BMW Sauber F1 Team has shown that by applying software from ANSYS, they have demonstrated excellent return on investment and soft benefits leading to business improvements, cost-cutting and competitive advantage,” said Brian Tinham, editor of Manufacturing Computer Solutions magazine.

“The launch of the supercomputer as well as its upgrades have strengthened our CFD capabilities considerably. We have decided not to build another wind tunnel, like other teams. Instead we have expanded our close relationships with ANSYS, Intel and Dalco to tap the full potential for CFD simulations in an HPC environment,” said Mario Theissen, director of BMW Motorsport.

"We are delighted that the immense value our engineering simulation software can offer clients has been so richly recognized by an independent expert panel of judges,” said Jim Cashman, CEO and president of ANSYS, Inc. “Companies across almost every industry are seeing the same benefits of applying our multiphysics software solutions to reduce design and development times, cut costs and gain a better understanding of design performance.”