Problems with T&S at the 2025 Icebreaker Grand Prix

Race Events
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As many of you may know, we had many issues picking up signals from transponders on Saturday during the 2025 Icebreaker Grand Prix. Rest assured, the issue was not because of any of your transponders, but rather a problem with how the weather interfered with the track antenna’s ability to pick up signal. As a result, many of you received a “DNF” for many of your runs, and more frustratingly, had inappropriate grid positioning for the following race. I know this is frustrating, and I am very sorry if it tainted your experience at the track this weekend.

I knew a situation like this was possible, where the track antenna could stop working entirely. In fact, it happened before to lesser degrees at LaJunta and HPR. I began working on a redundant solution as a backup, but had not acquired all the hardware necessary to make it fully functional.

Moving forward, I plan to have a redundant loop ready to go in case something like this happens again. I’m also coming up with better methods of testing the timing loop before an event to make sure we don’t have any issues.

Please accept my sincere apology for this inconvenience this weekend.

Austin

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Thank you for the update, and for all of the work you are doing Austin. At the Icebreaker someone came up with the suggestion of manual tracking of run order, which was rejected. This would have helped the drivers get a more accurate spot on the grid and improved the over-all flow of the races.

Please keep these methods in your tool-kit in the event something like this happens again. There is no shame in resorting to old-school timing tactics in a situation like we experienced at the Icebreaker. Your work is definitely appreciated, and we look forward to the backup loop.

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That is a good idea. I will also work on training my team for manual timing. Unfortunately this time, we simply weren’t prepared.

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