Car companies are testing the “Lungauring” – salzburg.ORF.at
lifestyle
In St. Michael im Lungau, “Lungauring” has made an international name for itself in the automotive industry: car companies test their prototypes, it WILL be developed, researched and winter driving safety training courses for professionals and amateurs are also offered.
The climatic conditions for testing prototypes are the same in Lungau as in the far north. Because otherwise many such tests take place in Finland. “And the Lungau is a closer area where that can be practiced. The transport here – especially from the German car industry – is much easier to organize than to the Arctic Circle. And we have established this use well here,” explained Bernd Siopares from the St. Michael Tourist Association.
Autonomous driving in the future
The cars tested are technically years ahead. “In the future, the autonomous vehicle should be electrically operated and there should no longer be any cars of your own, but you call the car and it picks you up,” explained operator Heli Troger. Experts expect that it will be in about ten years.
Motorsport and biosphere park
The Lungau is a large nature reserve with the UNESCO biosphere park. The motorsport activities at “Lungauring” are not seen as a contradiction in terms. “We also have a cooperation with the biosphere reserve in Lungau, we are involved in projects – such as autonomous driving or electricity,” explained Troger.
Lungauring St.Michael
In St. Michael im Lungau, “Lungauring” has made an international name for itself in the automotive industry
Driving safety training for professionals and amateurs
For example, a group from Germany met in Lungau for driving safety training on the Ring. “You never get stupid when you try something on different surfaces – it never hurts if you know everything,” says participant Björn Satorius from Hesse.
The men’s group tested four-wheel drive cars. “One approaches the limit from below and can then do it very well on the street, the other approaches the limit from above and that gets expensive. We simply try to translate the problem into a training course with fixed exercises and then you can try to avoid that on the road,” said driving instructor Herbert Hopp.