Rolls-Royce opens new Eric Platford Testway in Goodwood

Rolls-Royce has inaugurated the Eric Platford Testway at its Goodwood manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom. The new track is designed for the final validation of vehicles before they are delivered to customers, serving as a significant reinforcement of the company’s quality control processes.

Named in honor of Eric Platford, the first chief tester for Sir Henry Royce, the facility consists of four parallel 90-meter tracks featuring eight distinct surface types. These surfaces—which include cobblestones, concrete undulations, diagonal bumps, simulated railway tracks, and metal covers—are engineered to trigger specific responses in the chassis, suspension, bodywork, and interior components. Each vehicle undergoes two passes per surface: one at a constant speed and another with progressive speed changes to detect unwanted noises, vibrations, or structural reactions.

Prior to using the testway, vehicles undergo testing in an aeroacoustic chamber, where high-pressure air jets simulate speeds exceeding 112 km/h to detect aerodynamic noise leaks. While the new facility provides controlled testing, Rolls-Royce will continue to validate a sample of vehicles on a 13 km route on public roads near Goodwood. The investment is part of an ongoing infrastructure program at the Goodwood site, which employs over 2,500 people.