A two-day virtual hospitality event for a Formula One™ team

The brief

In August 2020 we partnered with Racing Line Events and their Formula One™ team client to create an alternative to the team's usual race hospitality for partners, sponsors and colleagues. The plan was to build a broadcast set at the team's Silverstone head office and stream a two-day live event during the 70th Anniversary race, using remote feeds from several locations including drivers' homes, the factory race bay and trackside.

Silverstone's Covid-19 restrictions limited trackside access. So we needed a simple-to-use live link kit that a race team member could operate, which we could control remotely and which stayed in direct contact with our control room.

A platform for VIP delegates

We also created a bespoke invitation, registration, viewing and feedback platform for VIP delegates, with a live Q&A and a competition entry facility.

The solution

Five Sony 4K cameras covered the set and a roaming camera in the factory. A LiveU LU600 field unit and a Sony RX0 camera package handled live trackside interviews, with in-ear monitors and microphones for drivers. External callers joined over Zoom links into a vMix streaming workstation with external switchers. A full audio package with a Yamaha QL5 desk, overlay graphics, a countdown intro film, a 300Mbps link and Atomos 4K recording completed the setup. Our crew provided floor management, presenter support and technical support for the stream audience.

The results

• The stream, including every remote link, worked flawlessly.
• 95% of the audience said they would recommend the virtual hospitality programme to a friend.
• Partners, sponsors and colleagues worldwide got behind-the-scenes access from home while interacting with the presenters.
• Engagement with key sponsors continued while live hospitality wasn't permitted, and the format was proven for future races.