MAGNETI MARELLI WRC ELECTRONIC YELLOW FLAG SYSTEM: THE SAFETY DEVICE TO BE INSTALLED ON WRC CARS IN 2010

 The WRC Electronic Yellow Flag System is the ground-breaking technological solution developed by Magneti Marelli - Official Telemetry Sponsor of the World Rally Championship (WRC) – set to be installed on competing cars in 2010 for added safety during WRC competitions.

 Thanks to the WRC Electronic Yellow Flag System, Magneti Marelli officially enters the history and future of world rally.

 In view of the excellent results obtained so far, as of next year the vehicles competing in the WRC will feature this device. The Italian company has developed the WRC Electronic Yellow Flag System, in cooperation with ISC, so that the cars can receive information about hazards on the track, without having to wait for safety personnel to wave the traditional yellow flags. The WRC Electronic Yellow Flag device aims to demonstrate new technologies at the pinnacle of the sport of rallying, such technologies which will undoubtedly have an impact on many forms of motorsport and commercial automobile sector in the future.

Thanks to the WRC Electronic Yellow Flag System, the race organisers can communicate directly with pilots and co-drivers through the Magneti Marelli Yellow Flag device, which will display a flashing yellow flag to warn them of a hazard on the track, along with a loud noise emitted by the device to capture the crew’s attention.  By simply pressing a confirmation button, the co-driver informs the organisers that the danger signal has been received, after which the flashing and the loud noise stop. The device is also equipped with a wireless connection to a GPS antenna fitted on the car, which transmit the car's position and allows for further interaction between the crew and the race organisers and possibly enhance the quality of communications and services during the actual race.    

Using a specific hi-tech device, which nevertheless derives from trackers fitted on regular cars, WRC races have the chance to adopt new safety equipment and, in particular, to effectively integrate the job of race personnel “on track”, concerning yellow flags.

Magneti Marelli boasts a rich tradition in motorsport and is the Official Automotive Telemetry Sponsor of the World Rally Championship. In addition to investing in the Championship to assist the sport in developing new technologies, it also works with International Sportsworld Communicators (ISC), the Commercial and Media Rightsholder for WRC, to enhance the delivery of the sport to the rally community and stakeholders worldwide.

Roberto Dalla, Managing Director of Magneti Marelli Motorsport, stated: “The WRC is the ideal scenario in which to improve our products and a market where to present innovative technological solutions. As of today, thanks to the WRC Electronic Yellow Flag System, it also represents a chance to do something extremely useful for the pilots and the fans who watch this exciting sport. In 2009 Magneti Marelli feels even more a part of this world and with the awareness that there is still plenty that can be done to improve both fun and safety.”

 MAGNETI MARELLI, THE RALLIES AND MOTOR COMPETITIONS

 Although Magneti Marelli has only been a sponsor of the WRC (World Rally Championship) since 2008, its history in motor competitions actually dates back to 1919.

Magneti Marelli’s debut in the world of rallies coincides with their beginnings in the 1970s. The Italian company has been a Technical Partner for many teams that have won the world championship: Lancia, Seat, Peugeot and Citroen, the latter being the team currently sponsored by Magneti Marelli which has won the last 6 editions of the WRC.

In Formula 1, Magneti Marelli won its first championship in 1992 with the Williams-Renault team, a thrill that repeated itself non-stop until 1997. From 1999 to 2004, Magneti Marelli won with Ferrari and, after a victorious two-year period with Renault, returned to the winners’ circle with Ferrari in 2007 and 2008.

Magneti Marelli has also won prestigious world titles in motorcycling. It boasts one Moto GP world title with Ducati and three with Yamaha, including the title won during the 2008 season. In the SBK, since 1996 it has collected one world championship with Yamaha and ten with Ducati.

The Italian company is committed as Technical Partner in several world competitions, such as GP2, FIA GT, etc., and also participates in water competitions on Powerboats. In concrete terms, every single day of the year Magneti Marelli contributes to the success of teams racing on 2 or 4 wheels, on tracks as well as on dirt roads, and on boats that glide on lakes, rivers and oceans.