Ricardo receives award for high performance engineering

In receiving the prestigious 2008 award of The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers of London, Ricardo plc joins a long list of previous high-profile winners which includes BMW Group Oxford, Augusta Westland, Land Rover and BAE Systems.

The 2008 award to Ricardo is made in recognition of the company’s work in supporting Bugatti on the design and development of the Dual Clutch Transmission technology (DCT) for the Veyron supercar, and also in supporting JCB in the development of the JCB444-LSR engines which in August 2006 powered the JCB DIESELMAX into the record books with a speed of 350.092 mph. Having originally received its Royal Charter in 1677, the Coachmakers’ Company has, like the many other City Guilds, changed from an organisation responsible for quality control and administration of trade to a charitable association. It meets its obligations to the City of London through the support it provides to the heritage craft of coach and coach harness making and, also, to the promotion of excellence within the modern aerospace, automotive and rail industries. The Company’s award is made on an annual basis – subject to there being a suitable recipient – for outstanding contributions to technological advancement in transport, also involving elegance and commercial significance.

On receiving the award on behalf of Ricardo plc, Bob Allsopp, managing director of Ricardo UK Ltd, said: “We are honoured to have been recognised by the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers for our achievements on the dual clutch transmission of the Bugatti Veyron supercar, and on the record-breaking diesel engines of the JCB DIESELMAX land speed record vehicle. The Ricardo contribution to these programmes is in keeping with the finest traditions of British engineering, innovation and technology and is a credit to the work of the company and its employees.”