Formula One
The World’s First Floating Skatepark At Over 2,000ft In The Sky
April 13, 2023
Scottish BMX Pro, Kriss Kyle, quite literally takes his sport to new heights by performing tricks above the ground from one of the world’s largest hot air balloons
Limits do not exist for BMX rider and Red Bull athlete Kriss Kyle who has achieved something seemingly impossible. With a skatepark suspended from one of the world’s largest hot-air balloons, Kriss Kyle floats over 2,000 feet above ground, showcasing an array of tricks suspended in mid-air for his latest pioneering BMX film.
Kriss braves his fear of heights to ride against the clock, contending with the Formula One engineered BMX bowl swinging underneath him. In a masterpiece of precision, Kriss uses his unique riding style, quick thinking and years of experience to manoeuvre the compact space, with no room for error. Onlookers stood with jaws dropped at the spectacle of the world’s first floating skatepark, as Kriss performed a range of tricks, fighting against a heavily weighted parachute, and the bowl moving and bouncing like never before.
The engineering feat saw Kriss work with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the technological arm of the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula One Team to design and develop the one of a kind carbon fiber BMX bowl. Made from the same composite as a Formula One car, he utilised their world leading aerodynamics, simulation and modelling expertise. This was combined with the record breaking capabilities of Cameron Balloons, to design and create one of the world’s largest operating hot-air balloons alongside a group of Kriss’ close friends who have been riding BMX and building ramps together since they were kids, bringing together an unlikely and multi faceted project team capable of allowing Kriss to fulfil his vision of riding his bike in the sky.
It wasn’t just aeronautical engineering challenges which made this project difficult to get off the ground – very specific climatic conditions are needed to get a balloon six times larger than a standard hot air balloon and capable of carrying a 1.7-ton bmx bowl in the sky. A rare combination of high atmospheric pressure, cold and dry conditions, along with surface wind speeds of less than 3 mph were needed. It took nearly three years of planning, waiting and weather-watching for Kriss to finally realise his ambitions of riding his BMX at over 2,000ft.
Watch his latest pioneering BMX film below with a full behind the scenes documentary available to watch at redbull.co.uk/dontlookdown.
Meet The AMR Pro - Aston Martin Valkyrie's Leaner And Meaner Track-Only Twin
June 28, 2021
“The AMR Pro is effectively an Aston Martin Valkyrie on steroids.” Adrian Newey
First came the Aston Martin Valkyrie – Aston Martin’s revolutionary road-going hypercar designed together with Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, and the Team’s external high-performance vehicle solutions arm, Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT).
Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, and the Team’s external high-performance vehicle solutions arm, Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT).
And then came along the AMR Pro, Aston Martin Valkyrie’s no holds barred track-only twin. Born from an initial design concept between Adrian, RBAT, Aston Martin and engineering firm Multimatic that was intended to contest the Le Mans 24 Hours, the AMR Pro is an evolution not meant for competition, but made for ultimate power and performance.
Bound by no regulations, the AMR Pro was developed with no limits. The outcome? A leaner, meaner, monster of a machine that sits lower, lighter and wider on the race track, approaching the performance of modern day Formula One machinery.
It will be tremendously exciting to see the car hit the track and show its true potential.
Adrian Newey
Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer, commented: “Once the Aston Martin Valkyrie was born, we discussed adapting it into a race car to contend for overall victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours. There were several areas for consideration such as repositioning the engine and gearbox, as well as lengthening the wheelbase and optimizing the aerodynamics. The project was hugely enjoyable and quite far advanced before sadly the program was curtailed, but the mechanical design of the car lives on as the AMR Pro. Significantly modified from the road going version, the AMR Pro is effectively an Aston Martin Valkyrie on steroids. Its performance output is at a very high level, much higher than any other previous track-only car and indeed well in excess of a top class LMP car of today. It will be tremendously exciting to see the car hit the track and show its true potential.”
Adrian and the Red Bull Advanced Technologies Team push the boundaries with Aston Martin and take Formula One standards of engineering excellence to the automotive industry.
Christian Horner
Christian Horner, CEO of Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Advanced Technologies, added: “The Aston Martin Valkyrie is a sight to behold and from start to finish it has been incredible to witness Adrian and the Red Bull Advanced Technologies Team push the boundaries with Aston Martin and take Formula One standards of engineering excellence to the automotive industry. In the AMR Pro, we can see a further evolution of the work that was carried out on Aston Martin Valkyrie for the initial Le Mans 24 Hours entry, and just what is possible technically when you’re not playing by any rules.”
Aston Martin Valkyrie
LEADING THE WAY IN PERFORMANCE VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
November 30, 2020
Red Bull Advanced Technologies: We envision, conceptualise, create and deliver effective solutions.
Max and Alex Drive The Valkyrie
February 18, 2020
Max Verstappen and Alex Albon got their first taste of the Aston Martin Valkyrie as the Formula One drivers got behind the wheel of the revolutionary hypercar at Silverstone Circuit.
The brainchild of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey and designed in collaboration with Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman, the 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 Valkyrie aims to bring Formula 1 levels of performance to the road and track.
And with development of the Valkyrie now entering its final phase, Max and Alex were given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the game-changing hypercar.
As Aston Martin tested a trio of prototypes at the home of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Silverstone.
Both Max and Alex opted to test the VP1 prototype in its striking Signature Pack Red Bull-inspired livery, first seen on the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 and featured on the Valkyrie at its first track test at Silverstone in July 2019.
And Max came away impressed by the Valkyrie’s performance, saying: “I was here at Silverstone to watch the first runs of the Valkyrie at the British Grand Prix last year but of course it’s always better to be behind the wheel yourself.
“To be one of the first guys to drive an insane car like this was really exciting. It was amazing to get a first taste of it,” said Max.
“Of course it’s still in the development phase but you can already feel the pace, which compared to a normal car is… pretty different!” he added.
“The Valkyrie and its levels of downforce are incredible, and it looks super aggressive. It was a lot of fun out there.”
For Alex, today’s Silverstone outing was a first opportunity to see the hypercar in the flesh, and he wasn’t disappointed.
“It was incredibly exciting to have this opportunity and the first thing that struck was the visual aspect – it looks awesome! It also really feels like a racing car,” said the Thai driver.
“Max had a go before me, so the anticipation was building, and to get a chance to drive it was really special and it feels really good.
“Obviously there’s still some development to do, but already it feels very good, especially the balance between the corners. It’s light; it feels sharp.
“Sure, compared to an F1 car, you’re missing the outright downforce, but you still feel the G forces in the corners and it definitely reacts closer to an F1 car than a normal road car.
“It’s pretty special. I just need to get my hands on one!”
The VP1 wasn’t the only Valkyrie on track as the VP2 and VP3 models also took to the circuit at the hands of Aston Martin test drivers Chris Goodwin, Darren Turner and Alex Lynn.
Looking back on the day Alex shared his thoughts on the Valkryie, representing a major achievement for both Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Aston Martin.
“It’s a big achievement for Red Bull Advanced Technologies. Aston Martin have been very welcoming to the idea of a Formula One team working with a car manufacturer, and with Adrian’s help it’s very exciting to take the technology we have at the race track and bring it to the road.”
Aston Martin Valkyrie
The Full Package?
January 24, 2019
Can you improve on perfect? The Red Bull Advanced Technologies-Aston Martin optional extras suggest you can…
With the Red Bull-Aston Martin Valkyrie moving closer to its delivery date, Aston Martin have announced an options list to add extra-spectacular performance on track, or simply extra spectacular everywhere.
For owners wanting to get their road-going Valkyrie flying on the circuit, the AMR Track Performance Pack delivers a range of benefits designed to drop lap times by around eight per cent. It features a new aerodynamic front clam, delivering greater downforce and efficiency, and a second set of all other exterior body panels.
The pack also comes with lightweight titanium brakes, track-focused suspension, a matte black magnesium performance wheel and carbon-fibre aero-disc set.
Customers also have the opportunity to include a suite of personalised pit garage and race suit accessory options to their package – for that ultimate track day and hypercar ownership experience.
Unlike the track-only Valkyrie AMR-Pro specification, a standard Valkyrie can easily be swapped from road to circuit-spec with the Track Performance Pack, which has been designed to be completely interchangeable with the road-legal components it replaces.
Those not planning to take their absolutely-irreplaceable Valkyrie anywhere near an Armco barrier may still add something more to the package, with a range of four Designer Specification themes available, featuring the exclusive Valkyrie colours Slipstream Green, Liquid Petroleum, Ethanol Silver and Maximum Orange.
Beyond this is an Ultimate Personalisation programme, which invites owners to work with the design team to refine their own specification, including personalisation options and exotic materials from the ‘Q by Aston Martin’ range.
The hybrid Valkyrie is a collaborative project designed under the leadership of Adrian Newey by Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Aston Martin.
Created as a genre-defining road-legal hypercar, it exists at the extreme edge of the performance envelope. 150 road-going and 25 track-only units will be built, with delivery to customers scheduled to begin this year.
Advancing the Development Cycle
May 25, 2018
Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the high tech external solutions division of Red Bull Technology, is delighted to announce that it is to collaborate with premium Swiss bike brand BMC Switzerland.
The co-operation between the two performance-led companies will see Red Bull Advanced Technologies bring its track-bred technical capability to bear on bicycles being designed by BMC Switzerland, which since its establishment in 1994 has championed cutting edge design and manufacture of bikes that have been ridden to numerous Tour de France, Team Time Trial and Road World Championship victories.
As such, Red Bull Advanced Technologies will harness the latest developments in race-refined technology, coupled with intelligent Human Performance Analytics, with specific focus on developing integrated electronic technologies to enhance the cycling experience for every bicycle rider. Red Bull Advanced Technologies personnel will also work closely with BMC Switzerland bicycle engineers on future technical solutions.
Christian Horner added: “There are a huge number of parallels between cycling and motor sport, encompassing materials technology, aerodynamics, human performance analytics, as well as increasing use of electric power solutions. This collaboration is an exciting one for Red Bull Advanced Technologies as we believe that together with BMC Switzerland, who is an undoubted pacesetter in the world of cycling, we can deliver some innovative developments in bike technology. It’s a fascinating project that we’re looking forward to working on with BMC Switzerland.”
David Zurcher, CEO of BMC Switzerland, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Red Bull Advanced Technologies to the world of cycling and are very excited to sign a technical collaboration agreement working closely together on future projects. BMC Switzerland’s brand DNA is built on a strong performance and racing heritage. As such, Red Bull Advanced Technologies is a natural partner for us and everyone at BMC is looking forward to starting this powerful relationship.”
BMC Switzerland