Norfolk-based Dragon Security Systems has teamed up with one of the leading competitors in GP2 motor racing to provide digital CCTV camera coverage to help protect the latest innovations on its race cars at circuits.
By taking delivery of a Mobotix digital CCTV camera through Dragon Security Systems to provide surveillance coverage during race weekends, iSport International has become the first GP2 team to upgrade its paddock area security coverage in this way.
Based at Carleton Rode near Wymondham, iSport International competes as part of the supporting events to the F1 schedule at the top circuits around the globe with the GP2 discipline widely recognised as the feeder series for future Grand Prix drivers.
Mobotix cameras capture high quality images and utilises IP (internet protocol) technology, which means pictures can be viewed from a laptop or mobile phone and from anywhere in the world, and will offer round-the clock surveillance protection to the iSport International paddock area and race cars.
Richard Selwin, iSport International race engineer, said: “The GP2 paddock is a secure area but in the interests of keeping the cars safe we lock them up in the truck when we leave the area. That can take up to an hour but with the new security system, we will not need to do that.
“It is not so much that the cars or equipment are at risk of theft, it is more about protecting our intellectual property and our own specific set-up for our cars. Basically, it is about protecting our trade secrets from our competitors.”
The race team, which has seen stars such as Timo Glock and Bruno Senna drive for it in recent years and was GP2 Asia Champions 2010, will use the CCTV camera from Dragon Security Systems when it races at circuits such as Monaco, Barcelona, Spain Belgium or Hockenheim in Germany.
The Mobotix digital system offers imagery far superior to conventional analogue CCTV with greater clarity of faces and incidents. With decentralised recording technology, the amount of processing on a system network is minimal. Software for operation is free and there is also browser control based options. The images can be stored within an on board SD card or sent to a Network Attached Storage device.
Richard added: “We looked at other camera systems but we felt that the Mobotix would give us the best all round performance.”
Wroxham-based Dragon Security Systems, which earlier this year clinched an “advanced partnership” agreement with German firm Mobotix to provide and install the latest technology in security cameras, has provided security systems for the team’s Norfolk headquarters for several years.
Its technical consultant Robert McDonald said: “When iSport said it was looking at the possibility of having CCTV in its paddock area at various circuits around the world, the Mobotix camera was the obvious answer because it is so adaptable and robust.”
The Mobotix M12 will be attached from a vantage point on the team’s lorry trailer, which not only carries the cars and equipment to European circuits but also has a large awning for the mechanics and technicians to work under at races.
Robert added: “The Mobotix camera will overlook the paddock constantly while team members are present and also monitor the area when they are not there. It will be set to record at one frame per second but if the camera senses movement, it will automatically monitor at 10 frames per second. It can respond to the unexpected.
“If anything happens, the Mobotix system sends an alert message to a smartphone or laptop and iSport staff can respond to that. It can also send a picture of what is happening to the phones and transmit a verbal warning message through the camera.”
The Mobotix M12 is an extremely durable product, has no moving parts, has 90-degree vision, an infrared movement detector, voice over ip and provides high quality digital images.
Ben Bullen, iSport International’s company buyer, said Dragon Security Systems had a very good understanding of the team’s needs and added: “We are the first team in the GP2 paddock that is taking these precautions with a CCTV security camera. It has not been done before but Dragon new exactly what we wanted and how to achieve it.
“With fierce competition between teams, it is always a concern that someone may be looking at something we might not want them to be looking at. Using this system will help ensure our cars and paddock area is more secure and give us greater peace of mind.”
