For more than fifty years, Circuit Paul Ricard has been at the cutting edge of innovation, especially as regards safety. Over the winter, the circuit’s teams took advantage of the extended off season to carry out work at the circuit, anticipating the forthcoming changes to FIA and FIM regulations for F1 and MotoGP race tracks.
New signalling lights and start lights
Circuit Paul Ricard and the Barcelona-based company, Alkamel Systems (AKS), have worked together on the installation of a brand-new digital safety solution. After several months of development and testing work, carried out jointly with motorsport LED experts Pixelcom, AKS developed a complete light signalling system for future Grade 1 circuits. The close working relationship between the Spanish technicians and the race track’s operational and IT teams enabled a “benchmark” process as regards track safety systems to be designed and installed.
Twenty LED panels (dimensions: 768 x 768cm; maximum luminance: 60,000cd/m2) were installed in the various sections of the famous French track with 247 configurations.
These panels can be controlled directly track side by the marshals or centrally controlled by Race Control.
A new, 1.6m-tall FIA Grade 1 start light block, with a repeat set of lights in the middle of the grid, was installed on the gantries. A four square metre, double-sided LED big screen is used to display messages from the Race Director to the drivers on track.
Three repeat sets of lights visible in the pre-grid area and in the pit garages ensure everyone is aware of the track status.
At the end of the pit lane: blue lights controlled by a camera are used to warn drivers about cars coming up the start-finish straight.