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TECHNICAL TALK
Logistical Operation
Letter from SWRT
22 July 2005
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| Copyright © STI |
The 10,075-kilometre journey from the Subaru World Rally Team's base in the UK to Rally Argentina is one of five long-haul trips that the team makes each rally season. Here are some facts and figures about the complex logistical operation:
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SWRT equipment was transported by both air and sea freight. Seven tonnes were flown in 19 bespoke flight cases. The team used to take 10 tonnes of airfreight to rallies. However, a new logistical planning system recently cut this by more than three tonnes, which, at £5 GBP per kilogram, represents a considerable saving.
The largest flight-case measures 1.6m x 1.2m x 2.5m and weighs 600kg. This contains sump guards, bumpers and other replacement body panels.Airfreight is made up of the latest-specification spare parts and specialist equipment.
Examples include electronics, suspension parts, gearboxes, steering racks, track control arms, radiator packages and computer equipment. Both rally cars were also transported by air. The Argentinean airfreight left the UK on Tuesday 28 June and arrived in Buenos Aires on Saturday 2 July before being shipped by road to Carlos Paz service park on Sunday 3 July.
Two members of SWRT's logistics department received the freight at the Pro-racing complex in Carlos Paz and started building the team's service HQ. This took two full days. Five steel containers full of equipment were transported by sea. Two were 40ft long, the other three measured 20ft.
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| Copyright © STI |
One of the 40ft containers held the three recce cars and their spare parts. These are now being re-prepared in the service park before being re-loaded and shipped directly to Rally Japan. The second 40ft container held a 7.5 tonne service truck and 150 BBS wheel rims.
The 20ft containers were filled with all the team consumable fluids (engine and gearbox oils, power steering and brake fluids), the hospitality awning and its furniture, team barriers / terracing, office buildings, kitchen equipment (stoves, fridges, cookers, sinks), air compressors, windscreens, groundsheets, service tents, lighting systems and drinking water.
The sea-freight containers will be sent directly to Rally Japan on Monday 18 July, while the airfreight will be packed and collected from the service park straight after the finish on Sunday 17 July.
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2006
2005