Getty Images
The Porsche Formula E team has announced a multi-year partnership with NetApp, a software company that will provide the team with hybrid cloud solutions.
By 2030, Volkswagen-owned Porsche aims for 80 per cent of all vehicles sold to be electric. Tapping into NetApp’s real-time data services, the Porsche Formula E team helps deliver on the vision of sustainable mobility while enabling the real-time adjustments that deliver superior race performance – and help drive the next generation of Porsche electric vehicles.
Furthermore, NetApp's hybrid cloud solutions enable the team to access its data trackside to support driver and team performance. This helps it make data-driven decisions in real-time, such as when to use the Formula E Attack Mode, which unlocks an additional 30 kilowatts of engine power.
The hybrid cloud data solution designed by NetApp and Porsche combines cloud network-attached (NAS) storage services with Global File Cache to ensure data can flow seamlessly and quickly between different widely dispersed locations. It also integrates powerful NetApp data services to ensure version consistency, manage and monitor cloud resources, and protect Porsche’s intellectual property.
“Formula E is a technology showcase and R&D backbone for Porsche and preserves our strong motorsports heritage on the road and on the track,” said Friedemann Kurz, head of motorsport IT at Porsche.
“Data is the defining element here, but it is not easy to harness when the racing team is always on the road. The solution created by NetApp is unique in the market in how it can move huge amounts of data at high speed while delivering an intuitive experience across edge, core and cloud so we can design better, faster cars for our racecar drivers and car enthusiasts everywhere.”
James Whitemore, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at NetApp, added: “This is a winning partnership in which two champions meet eye-to-eye. Porsche has secured over 30,000 wins in all major car racing series. NetApp has submitted more than 2,500 data innovation patents. Joining forces now, we are working to make our mark on the future of racing.
“Digital data is collected by the cars’ many sensors as they dart along the track and is processed synchronously to predict outcomes to aid the trackside team. Data equals speed.”