The BMW-made sled was developed around the automaker's EfficientDynamics model, with a heavy emphasis placed on lightweight materials optimized aerodynamics. However, the design is clearly in need of some fine tuning as the new rig could only muster a 14th place finish in Igls.
“The sled is a little narrower, so it’s not as easy to get into,” Holcomb said. “But it’s not like you can go half speed in a race. We went as hard as we could. My spikes got caught in the ropes and I reacted one way while the sled reacted the other way. Unfortunately we wasted half a second right there when we hit the wall and skid.”
He added: “I don’t know any sled project that comes out of the box and wins, so we knew we might have to lose before we can win.”
Team USA won't have much time to make adjustments. Holcomb and teammate Curt Tomasevicz will run the new BMW bobsled in the 2013 World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland next week.
