If you’re in the UK, you may have seen us in action as we recently completed a 15-month project visiting every racecourse in the country, at least three times each. This study was conducted to explore the benefits of the VST in improving racecourse ground management and enhancing the racing experience.
The project, led by Nottingham Trent University and University of Central Lancashire, provided invaluable insights into how the VST can support the racing industry. The feedback we received from racecourse professionals was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the value of the device in providing robust, data-driven surface testing.
With that success, we took the next step: commercialising the VST. Our goal is to continue supporting racecourses by offering a deeper understanding of their ground conditions and helping them optimise ground management for both safety and performance.
At our core, we’re driven by a desire to provide innovative, scientifically backed solutions that make a real difference. The VST is just the beginning of our journey and we’re excited to work with racecourses and sport industries to shape the future of surface testing and management.
Thank you!
Special thanks and a huge shoutout to the incredible research team whose hard work and dedication have made this possible. Through projects at NTU and UCLan, they’ve laid the groundwork for the Vienna Surface Tester (VST).
A big thank you to the same team, who are some of the best in their fields and continue to work in the background, constantly improving and refining the product. We’re grateful for your ongoing efforts in advancing surface testing and prioritising data and innovation.
Principal Investigators
Alison J. Northrop. MSc (Nottingham Trent University)
Sarah Jane Hobbs. PhD (University of Central Lancashire)
Co-Investigators
Robert W. Graydon. PhD (University of Central Lancashire)
Amy Johnson. MRes
Mark Lucey. MRCVS (Owl House, Oxford)
Jaime H. Martin. PhD (Nottingham Trent University)
Altuğ Tatlisulu. BSc
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