A customer case study from Dell discussing the benefits of Dell products in context of Dell's sponsorship of the BMW Sauber F1 team.

1. SOLUTION
• CONSOLIDATION
The
Winning
Edge
The BMW Sauber F1 Team gets on the fast track with new IT
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: BMW Sauber F1 Team
Founded: 2005
solution from Dell Employees: 700+
CHALLeNGe
The BMW Sauber F1 Team competes in
one of the world’s most technologically
demanding sports. It needed a reliable
IT partner to deliver high performing,
robust systems so it can meet its
exceptional IT objectives, and achieve
the best results on the racetrack.
soLutioN
The BMW Sauber F1 Team and Dell™
have together deployed new pit and
production systems that run wherever
they compete, anywhere in the world.
The solutions consist of Intel® based
Dell™ notebooks, Dell™ workstations,
Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers, Dell™
UltraSharp™ widescreen monitors, and
customized services.
BeNeFitS
• New robust technology works well in
extreme environments
Formula 1 is described as the most competitive and technologically • Dell™ Latitude™ notebooks and
advanced sport in the world. To be at the top, teams need Intel® Centrino® Duo processor
operations to run at the highest level and with the greatest precision. technology combine to help the race
The biggest challenge, in terms of IT solutions, is maintaining cars get off the grid
• Faster evaluation of race-critical
reliability and high performance when traveling. The success
data helps achieve optimum
and excitement of Formula 1 racing relies largely on the latest performance on track
technology developments. Ultimately, it helps teams boost the
performance of their cars on the track.

2. In 2005, BMW acquired a majority stake in presentation of its 2007 challenger in Valencia,
Sauber and established the BMW Sauber Spain—the BMW Sauber F1.07, with drivers
F1 Team. This led the team to explore new Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica.
opportunities with IT systems so it could take Since then BMW Sauber F1 Team has
advantage of the latest technologies. It began continued to work with Dell and taken
working with Dell™ during the offseason advantage of its range of IT solutions that are
preparing and installing new IT infrastructure built to withstand extreme environments. For
to lay a strong base for future success. example, the equipment needs to cope with
This stage was completed in time for the constant travel, temperature and climate
changes—while all the time delivering optimal
performance.
Willy Rampf, Technical Director, BMW
Sauber F1 Team, says: “Our race teams and
engineers need to use reliable, state-of-the-
art technology to achieve the best results. In
the 2007 season there are 17 races across
15 different countries, and this number can
expand every season. That’s why we need
powerful equipment that is easily transportable
without compromising reliability.”
In May 2006, Dell™ became an Official Partner
of the BMW Sauber F1 Team—the same time
“We chose Dell™ because we trust
its products and services. Having
equipment that is outstanding in
quality, reliability, and performance
gives us the confidence to push the
limits when we compete.”
Willy Rampf, Technical Director, BMW Sauber F1 Team
development began on the 2007 car. Dell now by Intel® Centrino Duo processor technology to
How it works
provides the team with IT equipment at the download a customized program into the race
BMW Sauber facilities in Munich, Germany, car’s computer. Without this, drivers Heidfeld
HArDwAre
and Hinwil, Switzerland, as well as at all race and Kubica would be unable to start.
• Dell™ PowerEdge™ 1950 servers
locations worldwide. Rampf says: “We chose
New, robust technology for • Dell™ Latitude™ D820 notebooks
Dell because we trust its products and services.
diverse environments • Dell™ UltraSharp™ 2007 WFP
Having equipment that is outstanding in quality,
widescreens
reliability, and performance gives us the Essentially, the BMW Sauber F1 team is a
• Dell™ Precision™ 690 workstations
confidence to push the limits when we compete.” business that designs, tests, and manufactures
cars to compete throughout the year, around
Dell Latitude notebook and SOFTWARE
the world. For this solution, the team custom-
Intel Centrino® Duo processor • Atlas
made a mobility unit to house a new pit system,
technology helps car to get • Metlab
entirely made up of Dell and Intel products.
off the grid • Windows® XP
The foldable steel case with in-built cooling
Each Formula 1 race track requires a uniquely systems can be wheeled onto a truck or plane,
serviCes
modified software program for the cars to run— and then sits on the side of the race track. So,
• Infrastructure Consulting Services
whether it’s to fit the narrow city streets of wherever the team is based, it has effective IT
(ICS)
Monaco or fast tracks of Monza in Milan. BMW support. The Dell pit system includes:
• Dell™ Platinum Enterprise Support
Sauber engineers, who work at the starting grid, • Dell™ PowerEdge™ 1950 servers—oper- • Dell™ Premier Pages™
use a Dell™ Latitude™ 820 notebook powered ated by Windows® XP, these servers deliver

3. “We are so satisfied with Dell™
that we’ll continue to update
other areas of our business with
its systems. That’s why we are
looking forward to extending our
partnership with Dell™ even more in
the future.”
Willy Rampf, Technical Director, BMW Sauber F1 Team
the high performance of Dual-Core Intel® throughout the March to October season. The the most business-critical in terms of achieving
Xeon® processors in a much slimmer model only downtime possible is during a small, two- optimal performance on the track, and is faster
for easy mobility. week window in November. thanks to the performance of Dell™ PowerEdge
• Dell™ Latitude™ D820 notebooks with Intel® servers with Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processors.
Fast evaluation of race-
Centrino® Duo processor technology—built critical data helps achieve The information gathered includes factors
for team members who need high-end optimum performance such as tire pressure and fuel consumption—
graphics and powerful performance. BMW anything that can give the team a more
The BMW Sauber F1.07 car is covered
Sauber F1 Team uses them to run applica- competitive edge. Rampf says: “Our engineers
with more than 100 sensors. During a race,
tions such as Atlas (telemetry), Matlab are much happier with the new pit systems.
data is collected from the car traveling at
(calculations). The Dell™ Latitude™ notebooks have a much
speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. The
• Dell™ UltraSharp™ 2007 WFP widescreens— higher resolution of 1,900 by 1,200 pixels
information is processed through Intel based
a wide-aspect desktop display that supports and present a clearer view of our telemetry
Dell™ PowerEdge™ 1950 servers to the Dell™
advanced features such as picture in picture system—making it easier to pick up fine lines
Latitude™ notebooks with Intel® Centrino® Duo
(PIP). A height adjustment stand allows users in detail of the transmitted data.”
processor technology. This mission-critical
to adjust to their comfort level.
data—everything from oil temperature and Engineers gain greater
The BMW Sauber F1 team is using this brake heat, to tire wear and fuel consumption, visibility
equipment for the first time in the 2007 season. will influence race strategy and tactics on the Also, the Dell™ UltraSharp™ 2007 WFP
Its team members have full confidence in track. Engineers evaluate it in the pit system widescreens allow engineers to use a picture-
the technology to run their business-critical and their feedback is then communicated to the in-picture function while operating, allowing
systems in unusual environments. The systems drivers via radio, and to the whole team during telemetry data and live feeds from the track
successfully run at their peak on race day, post-race analysis. This speed of this process is to be displayed on one screen. Engineers no

4. © 2007 Dell Corporation Limited. Dell, the Dell logo, PowerEdge, UltraSharp, Latitude, Precision and OptiPlex are either registered or unregistered trademarks of Dell Inc. Trademarks or trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or
longer have to flick from one monitor to another, Customer satisfaction means
saving time and pit space. Auto-adjust features more work will continue in
and manual image-adjustment controls are easy the future
to use, and, what’s more, the sharp resolution In addition to the successful new pit systems,
helps prevent strain on eyes. the production facilities in Hinwil and Munich
Support service builds team have put in place Dell equipment. They
confidence have rolled out 67 Dell™ Precision™ 690
workstations with 64-bit Dual-Core Intel®
The Official Partnership includes Dell™ Platinum
Xeon® processors and upgraded their software
enterprise support—a service customized by
systems. Employees use these when testing
the Dell technical account manager to meet
new components and since deployment, the
specific needs of BMW Sauber F1. It helps
computer processing unit has doubled in
maximize system availability and the highest
speed. Rampf says: “The biggest benefit from
performance—even in diverse, complex
working with Dell is that our hardware solution
environments, from Bahrain to Montreal, and as
is always at the leading edge of the industry—
far as Melbourne and Sao Paulo.
just like how we want to lead on the race track.
Rampf says: “With its Platinum support Dell lets us know what products are coming out
Dell ensures that in any case, anywhere in and gives us the opportunity for Beta testing.
this world, we will have a person providing We recently trialed the Intel based Dell™
their products. Dell disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Microsoft and Windows Server are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
technical support within one hour. We’ve Latitude™ next generation notebook series,
never needed to implement this so far, but just and we were impressed.”
knowing it’s there gives our team confidence.
“We are so satisfied with Dell that we’ll continue
That’s important to us.”
to update other areas of our business with its
“In addition, because the BMW Sauber F1 Team systems. That’s why we are looking forward to
is always on the lookout for new technology, extending our partnership with Dell even more
it works closely with Dell to evaluate new in the future.”
technology before market launch. If the
To find out more on the Dell Services that
equipment supports the objectives it can be
remain an important part of this BMW Sauber
deployed as soon as it is available.”
F1 IT solution, please see “Global services
Product delivery more from Dell help the BWW Sauber F1 Team stay
effective with pre- on the fast track to success.”
configured systems For more information on this case study
The IT team at BMW Sauber F1 uses Dell™ or to read additional case studies, go to
Premier Pages™—a personalized online www.dell.com/casestudies.
store—to procure and configure products
whenever it requires them. Employees choose
which specifications in terms of memory,
processing power and features it requires.
This not only saves the organization time on
delivery, it ensures that products are built-
to-order correctly in the first shipment and
without the unnecessary expense of features
it doesn’t need.
Simplify your total solution at DELL.COM/Simplify