Tyrell Formula One
The Need For Speed
Formula One car racing is among the most popular sporting events in the world, eclipsing the Olympics with over 4 billion viewers who tune into 16 races held throughout the world. Each Formula One team adds up to much more than a driver and pit crew - each team is a business in itself, employing over 300 people, fueled by highly advanced technologies,in electronics, computing, materials, and communications systems. Together, these state-of-the-art technologies deliver the critical speed, precision, and performance that Formula One racers demand.
Supporting these efforts are the world's most advanced cabling systems, provided by The Siemon Company. The Siemon Company became involved in the motorsport industry in the United Kingdom when MiTech, one of its longstanding premier certified installers, began its partnership with the Tyrell Formula One racing team in 1995. "It's a partnership based on similar values," says Eric Thickett, President of MiTech, "The companies involved in motor sports are breaking ground in all technologies, from super light weight materials to highly durable components and electronics for engine management." So, it's not surprising that the racing elite would also demand state-of-the-art networks and cabling systems from Siemon. "When the difference between the front and back of the grid is measured in just fractions of a second, teams must implement leading edge technologies in their networks," says Thickett.
Precision Toughness
Formula One racing organizations require a unique combination of speed and reliability in their cabling systems to stay at the forefront. "The network performance requirements of Formula One organizations are far greater than the typical corporation," Thickett explains, "They represent the pinnacle of technology, requiring cabling networks with maximum performance, quality and stability."
The first system supplied to Tyrell by MiTech was a Siemon Cabling System using CT® outlets and panels to provide a high-speed infrastructure at Tyrell's headquarters for its CAD/CAM systems. Originally, the system needed to support their Ethernet network at normal, fast and gigabit speeds, but later grew to cover the entire Tyrell Formula One operation from marketing to the manufacturing shop floor.
In 1996, MiTech provided a unique application of cabling for the Tyrell pit system, where mobile systems monitor hundreds of pieces of information about the cars as they test, practice, and race. The system combines information about the skills of the drivers and race data, with input from race engineers and team tacticians to create a race strategy, including what race trim, wing angles, and pit stop strategies will be used. The pit computer system - a Siemon MAX® system consisting of up to 6 racks of PCs and servers - offers state-of-the-art performance and can stand up to being transported to 17 countries a year.
Driving Standards Higher
MiTech strengthened its preeminence in the Formula One arena when they began their relationship with the Benetton Formula One team in 1996. Benetton needed an extremely high-speed system, and MiTech responded by providing an infrastructure of the Siemon Cabling System, supporting an ATM backbone operating on fiber connections between nodes at their headquarters in Enstone Buckinghamshire, England. The cabling system, which utilized both copper and fiber, featured Siemon's category 5e MAX® modules.
MiTech has expanded its role as the Official Network Supplier to Tyrell and Benetton. Today, MiTech supplies Siemon cabling solutions to the Jordan and British American Racing teams as well as the Reynard organization, which provides cars to the majority of Indy/Kart series racing teams in the USA. In addition, MiTech supplies networks to the Triple 8 Vauxhall team in the British Touring Car Championship.
Honda Racing Developments plans to join Formula One early in the year 2000. The team has also called on the assistance of MiTech and invested in the Siemon Cabling System at their new installation. To maximize the opportunities that the new millennium will bring, Honda chose Siemon's System 6SM solution.
From research and development to engineering and marketing to race day, the overriding mission of these Formula One organizations is to finish first. "It's a mission that closely resembles the Siemon Company's role in the cabling industry," suggests Thickett. "It is a never ending quest to achieve the maximum reliable performance."
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"Racing organizations require networks that perform at the pinnacle of technology" |  |
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