McLaren Applied and Blu Wireless target motorsport connectivity

This partnership aims to achieve new milestones in connectivity performance within the dynamic motorsport setting, ensuring a data channel capable of managing all data and video streams from a race car in real-time.

The proposed solution will integrate Blu Wireless' mmWave technology with McLaren Applied's advanced on-car telemetry hardware and its intelligent motorsport gateway. McLaren Applied will also contribute its knowledge of motorsport requirements through systems architecture, integration, and support. The solution features McLaren Applied’s patented software designed to maintain stable connectivity at high speeds. This software, which aggregates data across multiple networks, plays a crucial role in employing mmWave technology for multi-gigabit connectivity in all racing car platforms.

Over the past year, the technology has undergone multiple tests in the UK and North America, including successful demonstrations of multiple HD video links on race cars travelling at speeds exceeding 165mph. These tests, conducted by McLaren Applied and Blu Wireless, have validated the technology's effectiveness. McLaren Applied's team is now preparing the system for imminent deployment in racing.

Sam Guest, Head of Motorsport Telemetry, Control & Analytics at McLaren Applied, remarked: “McLaren Applied leverages its 30-plus year heritage in motorsport to enable a more intelligent and connected approach for a wide-range of moving vehicles. We expect this new technology to deliver an even more engaging race experience for motorsports fans, with the potential to incorporate live gaming and other forms of interaction.”

Mark Halliday, Head of Product and Programmes, Connected Intelligence, added: “The new collaboration with Blu Wireless is aimed at bringing a step change in connectivity in the harshest of race environments by offering new levels of speed and stability to inform race-winning strategies.”

Mark Barrett, Chief Commercial Officer at Blu Wireless, stated: “We are excited to apply our cutting edge mmWave technology to the challenging world of motorsports. The application we’ve developed with our partner McLaren Applied is a perfect fit for the types of environments and high speeds within which the race cars are performing. Our robust, gigabit connectivity and tailored system is certain to deliver real-time, almost life-like experience and will enhance the nail-biting excitement of motorsport for viewers.”