September 24, 2020 | By Lee Spencer

GM selects Eric Warren to manage N.C. technical center

General Motors has hired Eric Warren, chief technology officer at Richard Childress Racing, to oversee its new technical center in Concord, N.C., the automaker confirmed on Thursday.

GM announced the creation of the 75,000-square-foot facility on January 23, with a focus of providing support for its Chevrolet racing effort.

In his new role as Director of NASCAR programs, Warren, 51, will be responsible for Chevrolet’s research and development, engineering, team support and staffing of the center.

Warren, who earned a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from North Carolina State University, has spent the last eight years with RCR.

The Mt. Airy, N.C., native has worked in the motorsports industry since 1997. Since he joined RCR in 2012, the company has earned nine Cup victories and the 2013 Xfinity Series title with Austin Dillon.

Warren started his motorsports career as chief aerodynamicist at Penske-Kranefuss Racing. He joined Evernham Motorsports in 2002 as technical director and was promoted to vice president of the company before accepting a similar position at Michael Waltrip Racing from Sept. 2007 until November the following year. Warren landed at Richard Petty Motorsports in 2010 following a failed attempt at Team US F1.

“We’re thrilled to expand GM’s U.S. footprint by establishing a greater presence in Charlotte, a community that has become a racing and engineering mecca,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance and Motorsports in the January release. “The new facility will be close to a number of key Chevrolet and Cadillac racing partners, teams and suppliers. This will allow for improved collaboration as well as access to some of the industry’s best talent.”

GM’s state-of-the-art complex will feature Driver-in-the-Loop simulators, vehicle simulation, aero development and other programs focused on advancing GM’s racing and production effort.