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Company Success Stories - Ferrari
AMD drives technology solutions for Ferrari Formula One team
Profile
Ferrari
http://www.ferrariworld.com
September 23, 2003
"When you are racing at a top speed of 225 mph through a sinuous track in a cockpit that has become known as the “survival cell,” information about your car, its performance, the turns up ahead and the drivers around you is essential. That is what drove Ferrari to partner with a technology leader like AMD. - Roberto Casolari"
When seconds count
Formula One drivers rely not only on their pit crews, but also on state-of-the art computers to provide real-time vehicle diagnostics and performance forecasting.
“Technology has been always used in motor racing,” said Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello, who has seven Grand Prix wins. “However, in the last few years the link between Formula One racing and technology has become closer, allowing engineers to get more information on the real performance of the car and therefore increase its potential.”
Ferrari has been involved in racing since the first two-seater rolled off the line in the spring of 1947 in Maranello, Italy. Today’s racing team includes an IT department in addition to the traditional drivers, engineers and pit crew.
“Computers were once a luxury item used by elite teams. They have become a necessary tool we rely on to compete in this sport,” said Ferrari’s IT manager, Antonio Calabrese. During the race, Ferrari’s IT department manages the telemetry analysis of the cars and provides real-time performance forecasts to the pit crew and drivers. Off the track, the IT department runs simulations to train drivers.
Mobile technology improves safety, performance
Since 2002, AMD has been supplying the Ferrari Formula One team with powerful and reliable AMD processor-based mobile PC systems for real-time performance diagnostics.
“Having the ability to count on an excellent technology partner like AMD is very important in the competitive world of Formula One racing,” agreed Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, five-time Formula One world champion. “During races and tests, PCs allow us to better communicate with our engineers in order to improve the performance of the car.”
Early in AMD and Ferrari’s relationship, Ferrari needed AMD to provide a solution to transfer the large job of telemetry analysis to the small space of the pit. AMD responded with mobile AMD processor-based PC systems that enable the pit crew to run data processing on notebook computers within the close confines of the pit during races.
“AMD put the power of desktop performance on a laptop computer, saving us transportation time and space in the limited confines of the pits,” said Roberto Casolari, a member of the Ferrari Formula One pit crew.
In a world where milliseconds count, computers are an essential tool to help increase car performance and improve race times. Computers are also critical to predicting and preventing accidents in order to improve driver safety.
As a world-famous champion with a heavy travel schedule during the season, Schumacher also values the help in personal communication that technology enables.
“Moreover, technology offers us various benefits, such as the Internet, which gives us the opportunity to stay in contact with our family and fans all over the world,” said Schumacher.
Driving 64-bit solutions
The introduction of the AMD Athlon™ 64 processor means even more technological power behind the Ferrari Formula One team. “We believe the AMD Athlon 64 processor will deliver more data analysis in less time,” said Casolari.
“The role of computers in Formula One racing continues to expand, from more realistic simulation systems for drivers to more accurate race management tools,” said Calabrese, adding, “The Ferrari Formula One team looks forward to test driving the AMD Athlon 64 processor. A technology partner like AMD will help us continue to outpace our competition.”
© 2003 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Athlon, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other product and company names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.
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