Satellite Technology Delivers Improved Communications

20/06/2008

Triple Eight Race Engineering designs, builds and races Vauxhalls on behalf of General Motors in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Formed in 1996, a close working alliance has developed during a decade of success and Triple Eight is now Vauxhall's technical partner for motorsport. Together, the VX Racing brand and Triple Eight have achieved unprecedented success and is the first BTCC team in history to win the 'treble' four times running.

The team has also expanded into the Australian V8 Supercar series as well as being involved in several other forms of motorsport, ranging from the British Rally Championship to the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup.

The Challenge

With the team headquarters based near Banbury, Oxfordshire in the heart of the UK's motorsport valley, Triple Eight wanted to improve communications with the team wherever it might be located. This might be at any one of the ten circuits around the UK including Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Donnington Park, Thruxton and Rockingham or in other parts of Europe where the team carries out testing outside the season.

Triple Eight is also committed to developing closer relationships with BTCC fans around the world and maintains an informative website that is regularly updated with interesting information such as the local weather, circuit telemetry, team news, driver updates and results. To maintain its leading position, the team wanted to increase the team's worldwide fanbase by developing new and innovative sections for the website that would provide insights into the inner workings of the team and bring the atmosphere of the track to fans that are unable to get to the circuit.

The Solution

As the UK's leading developer of satellite-based communications systems, Excelerate Technology was asked to develop a cost-effective and reliable solution to improve the voice and data communications for the team. It supplied a comprehensive suite of cutting edge voice, data and video transmission technologies that can be deployed within four minutes of arriving at a circuit or testing facility regardless of location.

Mobile satellite technology is used to access broadband, enabling a wide range of data, voice and video applications to be run relating to the performance of each vehicle. It enables the exchange of information on circuit telemetry, lap timings, parts, CAD drawings and other key data without having to rely on the local facilities and connections. The satellite network is managed in real-time from Excelerate's Cardiff-based headquarters to ensure that sufficient bandwidth is available to meet specific requirements at all times wherever the team is located.

The second phase of the project was the implementation of the Exceler8 Racevision IPTV system. With most of the technology already in place, it was a simple matter to add network CCTV cameras that could be situated anywhere in the garage area to provide high quality pictures and streamed via existing mobile satellite links to a secure website. After successfully completing a test run of the system using the team's servers, it was launched the following week on the website.

Exceler8 Racevision really comes into its own during qualifying sessions when there is the most activity inside the garage. Fans can follow all the action that takes place in the normally restricted area and see all the work being carried out on the cars which can range from minor adjustments, tyre changes, through to major repairs in the event of a crash. An additional benefit of the system is that the camera can be monitored from a mobile phone throughout the night providing additional security.

The system is also used in the team's hospitality area during race meetings where up to four hundred corporate guests and sponsors can be entertained. Up to thirty minutes before the start of each race, large monitor screens show live footage from the garage where the cars are being prepared and last minute checks are completed. This plays an important part in helping to build up the atmosphere and bring corporate visitors closer to the action.

Exceler8 Racevision has been a significant addition to the team's website which has already experienced a 100% increase in the number of 'hits' over race weekends compared with the same period the previous year.

“Triple Eight has a history of innovation and have lead the way in using technology to improve communications with our fans. We were the first to introduce online Q&A sessions with drivers after qualifying and the first to show telemetry and live timings on the website. We always try to be one step ahead of the opposition both on and off the track,” concluded Franck Marie.