High-performance connectivity powers the Imola Circuit track and paddock

The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is more than a racetrack; it is a global icon of motorsport culture. Opened in 1953 in the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley, it hosts world-class automotive and motorcycle events, from Formula 1 to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Over time, it has become one of the most technical and compelling circuits on the international stage.

Widely regarded as a highly technical track, Imola is known for complex corners and demanding braking zones. Running at competitive speed requires professional-level skill and precision.

The circuit and its facilities have been part of a modernization program aimed at increasing infrastructure performance and venue versatility, enabling the site to host motorsport events as well as conferences, concerts, exhibitions, and corporate or private functions.

Objectives

• Ensure reliable connectivity across mission-critical areas
• Deliver high network performance throughout the entire circuit
• Support real-time transmission of data and video
• Provide resilience and durability in exposed environments
• Enable a scalable network that is simple to manage

The Project

The project for the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola focused on strengthening the network infrastructure in the most operationally critical areas to ensure high-performance connectivity, reliability, and service continuity during events and competitions.

The initiative replaced outdated, fragmented equipment with next-generation solutions designed to deliver higher performance and enable unified management across the entire infrastructure.

Modernization efforts concentrated on the paddock and track areas, where stability and speed are essential for the technology used by teams, engineers, and operations staff.

The upgraded network supports real-time transmission of data and video, providing the bandwidth and low latency required for numerous IP surveillance cameras and digital monitoring and safety services.

Another key objective was ensuring durability in exposed environments such as outdoor pit boxes and trackside segments. To meet these requirements, highly reliable industrial-grade switches were deployed in sealed cabinets built to withstand harsh conditions—including humidity, high temperatures, vibration, and dust—ensuring continuous operation even in demanding environments.

In the paddock, network devices were integrated into protected cabinets that also house electrical panels powering motorhomes, team services, and event-related systems.

Along the track, switches connect monitoring cameras and distributed service equipment. All locations are linked to the optical core through single-mode fiber connections, with link redundancy implemented wherever possible to increase available bandwidth and overall network resilience.

The Solution

To meet the connectivity, performance, and reliability needs of the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, a fully Allied Telesis resilient architecture was implemented. The design features a high-performance redundant core and industrial-grade switches connected through high-capacity optical rings, all centrally managed via Vista Manager.

Industrial switches with 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks deliver high throughput and low latency, essential for real-time transmission of video and monitoring data. Installed in sealed cabinets along the track and in the paddocks, these switches provide stable, high-speed connections to IP cameras, control systems, network devices, and digital services used by teams and staff during races and events.

Built to withstand extreme conditions such as vibration, humidity, and high temperatures, Allied Telesis switches ensure continuous operation even during critical moments, minimizing the risk of interruptions during competitions.

The network is also scalable and easy to manage through Vista Manager, enabling the technical team to quickly expand, configure, or adapt the infrastructure to meet the demands of events, testing, or future technological innovations.

Why Allied Telesis

The decision to adopt the Allied Telesis solution reflects the Autodromo’s commitment to a technology partner that delivers top-tier quality, reliability, and performance—values perfectly aligned with the prestige and heritage of the Imola circuit.

The Allied Telesis solution is comprised of products known for their durability and rugged design, essential in critical environments like paddocks and trackside areas where the network must operate continuously without compromise.

The brand’s reputation for quality, scalability, and innovation provided the Autodromo with long-term assurance of reliability. This choice reinforces the circuit’s dedication to cutting-edge infrastructure, supporting the growing digitalization of motorsport while ensuring consistent performance over time.

Results

The project established a scalable, secure, and easy-to-manage network, ready to support future infrastructure expansion and the adoption of new digital technologies for track management and monitoring.

The upgraded network now reliably supports all critical applications used at the Autodromo, including:

• Timing and telemetry systems
• Communication displays
• Video surveillance
• Live video transmission
• Online streaming
• Team and partner infrastructure
• Public connectivity services

Allied Telesis Devices

For the high-performance core, modular SBx908 GEN3 switches were deployed in a stacked configuration to manage high-speed fiber rings connecting access devices.

Outdoor access points are served by Industrial Ethernet IE220 switches, DIN-rail mounted to fit existing trackside cabinets. They operate across a wide temperature range (-40℃ to +75℃), provide PoE++ support, and feature interfaces up to 10G, ensuring reliable connectivity for critical devices under extreme conditions.

The Vista Manager system provides centralized management, enabling the entire network to be monitored and controlled from a single interface.