test drive
A test drive is a functional test of the systems of a device after final assembly , but before commissioning while driving.
Test drives and flights are carried out on all newly built cars in the factory , on new ships in the coastal area or on aircraft near an airfield .
In the automotive industry, in contrast to a test drive, a test drive takes place on public roads in order to gain experience under real conditions.
The aim is to test the vehicle's systems before delivery in order to identify and eliminate defects and to identify the system's performance limits. The test drives are carried out by the manufacturer , partly with the help of the future owner. In the case of ships and aircraft, especially warships, the testing phase can take years, with extensive tests being carried out during the journey or the flight.
Motorsport
In motorsport , test drives take place before and during a season. The purpose is not only to test the newly built vehicle or motorboat, but also to improve it. Especially in higher racing classes such as For example, in Formula 1 , the individual teams have departments specifically for test drives, some of which are as large as the actual racing team. For this purpose, the teams employ their own test drivers who are supposed to relieve the regular drivers. There are also dedicated test tracks that are used by the teams for test drives, either these are also tracks used as part of the championship ( Silverstone Circuit ) or tracks that were previously in the racing calendar ( Brands Hatch Race Circuit ) or tracks used in other series. Some teams, such as Ferrari , also have their own facilities that they use exclusively for testing ( Fiorano ); however, some of these routes are also used in other racing series.