Community technologies can play a crucial role in reducing the number of accidents and improve driver safety. The Coyote teams used this principle as a starting point for their close collaboration with Peter Auto, which brought its experience and knowhow in motor sport to help create the Coyote Race for Peter Auto.
This solution enables Race Control to be in perfect communication with the drivers in danger, accident and restriction zones (slow- zones) thus reducing the risk of accidents, and at the same time ensuring respect of the race regulations.
Historic motor racing, even if it could be described as a leisure activity, is a branch of motor sport that has to comply with regulations ensuring the safety of all those involved. In particular, the regs impose the deployment of a safety car in the case of an accident or breakdown to ensure that a low speed is maintained to make the circuit safe during activity on the track itself caused by the involvement of different intervention teams. On long circuits like Le Mans, for example, the arrival of the safety car can signal the end of a race for the drivers. This is why slow-zones were introduced in 2016 at Peter Auto events enabling circuits to be divided up into several sectors thus isolating the zone at risk where an intervention is taking place.
Reduced visibility, noise, and adrenaline are all factors that alter the drivers’ perception and interfere with the instructions given by the track marshals. This helps explain why certain drivers fail to respect the slow- zones thus increasing the risks of accidents during the race itself. The Coyote Race for Peter Auto solution solves this problem with a speed monitoring unit installed on board the car that emits a visual warning at the approach to, and the crossing of, a slow zone. At the same time, this speed monitoring unit, the Coyote UP assistant, linked by computer to Race Control, enables the cars being driven in a dangerous manner to be identified to penalise this type of behaviour.
A project initiated over a year ago
This solution, unique in the world of historic motor sport, required more than six months’ development to meet the needs, restrictions and expectations of officials and drivers. It will be exclusively available for three years at events organised by Peter Auto and will undergo its first test at the Dix Mille Tours, Spa-Classic and the Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or after which it will become officially operative at Le Mans Classic.
“To be in a position to offer new experiences through our adaptive services and our knowhow is part of our DNA. Our users and the Coyote community are great historic car fans. So our decision to accompany Peter Auto and improve driver safety in historic races followed quite naturally. We’re very proud to be able to associate our brand with this great internationally-renowned series.” Fabien Pierlot, President and founder of Coyote.
“Each year historic racing is a discipline that attracts more and more participants. I’m absolutely delighted about this as it means that our passion will endure. But it’s necessary to implement means that ensure the safety of our drivers and also to preserve these beautiful cars that are a real patrimony on wheels! Our association with Coyote, the European leader in community information, in real time was a no-brainer.” Patrick Peter, President and founder of Peter Auto.
