The Power of Composites: Carbon Fiber Wheels and CICNDT’s Passion for Racing
At CICNDT, we aren’t just experts in non-destructive testing (NDT) for composite materials – we’re also car enthusiasts who understand the revolutionary impact of carbon fiber wheels on performance. As members of NASA Utah, the National Auto Sport Association, our love for cars fuels our commitment to ensuring safety, performance, and reliability in advanced composite materials.
The recent announcement that Carbon Revolution’s carbon fiber wheels are featured on the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is a game-changer for car performance and something we can’t help but celebrate. From the engineering ingenuity to the thrill of seeing composites push the limits on track performance, this innovation strikes a chord with our team – both professionally and personally.
Carbon Fiber Wheels: Racing Innovation on the Road
The new Corvette ZR1 features Carbon Revolution’s one-piece carbon fiber wheels, shaving 42.8 pounds of rotating, unsprung mass across the vehicle compared to traditional aluminum wheels. For enthusiasts like us, this isn’t just about weight savings – it’s about improved handling, acceleration, and lap times.
Jake Dingle, CEO of Carbon Revolution, captured this perfectly:
“The thin, split-spoke design of our wheels for GM highlights what is possible with carbon fiber… The final product enhances the Corvette ZR1’s performance.”
These cutting-edge wheels represent the incredible evolution of composites in automotive applications. By meeting GM’s stringent strength and durability standards with a lightweight, high-load-rated design, Carbon Revolution proves that composites are the future of performance vehicles.
Racing Runs in Our DNA
For the CICNDT team, composites aren’t just theoretical – they’re a passion we live out on the racetrack. Our CEO, Jeremy Heinks, is an avid racer and a proud member of NASA Utah, where he enjoys competing with his favorite track car: the legendary Mazda Miata. Known for its nimbleness and precision, the Miata embodies everything we love about motorsports – pure, driver-focused performance.
Other members of our team share a deep appreciation for American muscle, with a particular fondness for Ford Mustangs. Whether it’s the Miata carving corners or a Mustang roaring down the straightaway, we know firsthand how weight reduction and material innovation impact performance, speed, and safety.
Why Composite Innovation for Carbon Fiber Wheels Matters on the Track
Composites like carbon fiber are reshaping the automotive industry, and nowhere is that more apparent than on the racetrack. The lighter weight and increased strength of carbon fiber components allow for faster acceleration, sharper handling, and more responsive braking – all crucial factors for racing performance.
As engineers and enthusiasts, we understand the importance of testing these materials to ensure they perform under extreme loads and conditions. That’s where CICNDT comes in. Our advanced non-destructive testing services – including laser shearography by Dantec Dynamics, ultrasonic inspections, and defect analysis – validate the integrity and safety of composite materials, giving manufacturers and racers confidence in their performance.
Whether it’s a high-tech Corvette ZR1, a track-tuned Mazda Miata, or a Mustang tearing up the tarmac, our mission is clear: to ensure composites perform at their best, every lap, every race.
Composites: A Revolution in Performance Engineering
The Corvette ZR1’s carbon fiber wheels represent the pinnacle of automotive engineering, designed with Carbon Revolution’s patent-pending Diamond Weave Technology to handle extreme loads while staying lightweight. The rear wheels, measuring 21 inches by 13 inches, are the widest carbon fiber wheels in the world, a testament to how far composites have come in performance applications.
These advancements aren’t limited to supercars. As composite manufacturing becomes faster and more cost-effective, technologies like these will find their way into grassroots racing – something we can’t wait to see at our next NASA Utah event.
Our Passion, Your Performance
At CICNDT, we combine our expertise in NDT with our love for racing to ensure precision, safety, and reliability in composite materials. Whether you’re innovating for aerospace, automotive, or energy industries, our focused, practical, and robust solutions help you push the limits – just like we do on the track.
Learn More About the Story Behind the Corvette ZR1 Wheels
For further details, check out these resources:
- GM’s third Corvette model to feature Carbon Revolution wheels
CompositesWorld: Read the full article here - Carbon Revolution’s Official Announcement on Corvette ZR1 Wheels
Carbon Revolution: View the official release here - Join NASA Utah and Experience the Track
National Auto Sport Association – Utah Region
A sleek black Mazda Miata convertible, parked with a breathtaking view of a serene mountain lake, captures the spirit of open-road driving. Image used for editorial purposes.
At CICNDT, we’re proud to support innovations that combine technology, performance, and passion – on the road, in the air, and on the racetrack.