UK based company, EM Motorsport, was awarded the 2009 Safety Innovation of the year for its Formula One Marshalling system at a glittering ceremony in Cologne yesterday. EM Motorsport has developed the system, now familiar and highly visible to spectators and TV viewers alike, over the last 4 years.
The Professional Motorsport World Expo Awards are an established, important annual event recognising the years' outstanding achievement within the sport. The awards judging panel is an independent group made up of motorsport team principals and leading motorsport journalists from around the world. The panel was impressed with the innovative system, and the major improvements in safety that it provides for drivers, marshals, spectators and all track users.
Speaking following receiving the award, a delighted Giancarlo De Angelis, managing director at EM Motorsport thanked everyone at EM Motorsport and its Italian partner, the ART group, for their dedication in delivering and supporting the system. He said that:
"the award was a fantastic recognition for the time and effort developing the system" and that "EM Motorsport was proud to be leading the development and implementation of advanced motorsport marshalling systems to circuits around the world."
Based on its F1 Marshalling system, EM Motorsport has also developed cost effective versions of its marshalling system for both individual race series and fixed installation at motorsport circuits.
Background information
The F1 Marshalling system, allows officials in race control to communicate directly with every car, and 20 Marshalling light panels, around each circuit. The system uses its own 2-way radio telemetry system, and GPS receivers on each car, to track the GPS position of every car on circuit. It allows Race Control to send coloured flag signals to any car's dashboard display following an incident on circuit. The system can also be used to monitor the speed of every car past an incident, or under the safety car, in real-time.
The F1 Marshalling system features Marshalling light panels around each circuit These high-brightness LED panels, use the same telemetry system as the F1 Marshalling system, and can replicate the full range of coloured signals to the drivers traditionally provided by marshals waving flags. The system allows Race Control to display coloured flag signals at any Light Panel around the circuit. Additionally, a remote-control handset connected to each light panel allows marshals to set the light panel colour, simultaneously alerting race control to any incident via the telemetry system.
The EM Motorsport Marshalling Light Panels provide significantly improved visibility for drivers at a much greater distance than traditional flag signals, and allow marshals to be positioned at a greater distance from the areas of the circuit where accidents are more likely. The light panels increase the effectiveness of Race Control in the management of on track activities, allowing better coordination of flag signals between marshals and race control.
Please click here to read the press release in full.
