UST Global ties up with Virgin Racing

CHENNAI, INDIA: California-based IT services provider UST Global said that it has commenced a collaborative IT services partnership with Virgin Racing for the 2010 Formula One season.

As per the tie up, over the next three years, UST Global will provide technology services to support and enhance Virgin Racing’s performance on the track, said a press release. UST’s initial contribution to the team effort is a real-time Race Management System, built from the ground up for the VR-01. The new system will be officially launched at Silverstone, UK.

In addition to the Race Management System, there are two other projects planned for 2010 viz: VR-01 Simulator Integration and Automotive Parts Life Management Database.

Race Management System

In its primary assignment, UST Global has built an integrated control panel display that assimilates wireless data from the cars on the track, GPS feeds, trackside camera feeds, external weather information, and FIA Atlas Server data feeds.

The assimilated, technical analysis of the race is delivered in real time to the trackside support team. This optimized information delivery allows the team engineers to monitor vital data points, identify calibration of car parts and raise alerts in case of critical faults.

VR-01 Simulator Integration

UST Global said it would integrate set-up data for the VR-01 racing car with the Wirth Research simulator, ensuring a constant, two-way correlation between the two. The synergy between the simulator and the actual car will offer an efficient test-point for technical experimentation.

Automotive Parts Life Management Database

The components of a high-performance F1 race car are significantly different from those of an average commercial automobile in terms of both quantity and quality. The life expectancy of these components is affected by the high amount of wear and tear incurred in the lifecycle of the race car and the erratic nature of the events in every run.

UST Global said it is creating a database application to track the details of each component of the VR-01, including the changes and replacements it undergoes throughout its lifecycle. The application will generate automatic notifications to the race team engineers as a component nears the end of its predicted lifecycle.

Jim Wright, marketing director for Virgin, said the best Formula One partnerships are based upon commercial and technical commitments.

“In UST Global, Virgin Racing has found an ideal partner who shares the same values, vision, our exacting demand for accuracy, innovation and time lines, and who has a similar work ethic... As a partnership, the Virgin Racing/UST Global alliance has the hallmarks of everything that is necessary to compete at the highest level and as such the partnership has a strong future.”

Added Joe Nalkara, President of UST Global, said, “The Virgin Formula One Team, determined to challenge the established teams, has broken with traditional convention and designed its cars on CFD, entirely using technology rather than expensive wind tunnels. UST continues to help its clients gain competitive advantages through technology and process innovation, making us the ideal partner for Virgin Racing in Formula One.”