Telemetry in Rally: benefits and functionality

Telemetry: very important tool for analyzing the driver’s performance

Discover the potential of Rally Telemetry (also known as data acquisition), a tool perfected over 25 years, now available to every driver at the Vittorio Caneva Rally School.

Imagine capturing a snapshot of one’s driving style, driving sensations and on-board camera footage – a true representation of events. This is precisely what Rally Telemetry offers. For over 25 years, the Vittorio Caneva Rally School has refined a data analysis and interpretation process that provides an exceptionally accurate portrayal of a driver’s performance.

A Guide to Understanding Telemetry in Rally

Telemetry, installed within the vehicle, functions as a device that connects to the engine control unit (ECU) and other strategically positioned sensors. By measuring important and relevant parameters, it provides valuable data for performance analysis like:

• Brake pressure
• Percentage throttle usage
• Steering wheel angle
• Vehicle and wheels speed
• Longitudinal and transversal accelerations

Using Virtual Channels to Analyze Performance in Motorsports

Virtual channels are a valuable tool for racecar drivers and their teams. These channels are created through software using mathematical expressions, allowing for the display of additional values not directly coming from sensors. For example, Kus represents understeer.

After a session, the driver can download the data using specific software and view it through relevant graphs. This facilitates analysis for comparing different sessions, identifying areas where performance was better, and understanding why.

The implementation of GPS data in Telemetry: the point.

Since its inception, GPS technology has been a very valuable technology within reach. Its implementation in Motorsport has always been the subject of doubts and perplexities given the lack of precision and the variability of the accuracy, which is not always constant.

In recent years, innovative technologies have made it possible to reach levels of precision never seen before and in this Vittorio Caneva Rally School has played a crucial role: thanks to its internal research and development division dedicated to technology in Motorsport it has in fact managed to solve the problems that affected GPS technology by being able to implement it in a stable form in their courses.

Telemetry in Rally: What Can You Analyze?

Telemetry analysis does not solely show speed and time. Instead, it is the outcome of a series of operations that, when executed correctly by the driver, lead to their maximization. With numerous graphs, telemetry allows us to understand how a particular speed was achieved at a specific point of the special stage.

Here are some of the benefits of telemetry analysis:

• The brake channel provides insight into how many meters the braking took place, the trend of its pressure, and the load generated on the front wheels.
• The steering wheel graph allows us to analyze the racing line and position of the apex point.
• The throttle graph helps in understanding if the “coasting” has been used correctly.
• Other data available can help in understanding when the vehicle has been used in relation to the performance it can express.
• The speed trend is the final result.

Telemetry analysis also includes a time graph that allows us to understand when time has been gained or lost, both locally and globally, by comparing multiple sessions. This is an interesting aspect for a driver who can learn to quantify the chronometric weight of their actions.

Through telemetry analysis, the Vittorio Caneva Rally School can better understand incorrect attitudes of the driver and present them numerically and graphically. Telemetry also enables drivers to measure progress on a correctly executed test or school day, providing concrete proof of the results of their investment.

The school uses telemetry in all its gravel and asphalt rally courses. You can discover the benefits of telemetry on the ground starting from the STAGE Gravel Rally Courses. We are also working to implement it in all further activities carried out.