Q&A with Porsche Motorsport's Head of IT Friedemann Kurz
Cybersecurity is often mission critical for many enterprises, but few sectors is it so nail-bitingly important than in a high speed Formula E race.
That's because In the electrifying world of Formula E racing, cybersecurity can make the difference between victory and defeat. The modern racing vehicle is no longer simply a mechanical marvel, but a sophisticated, data-driven machine where every digital connection represents both an opportunity and a potential vulnerability.
Gaining data on laps that help the driver to improve performance, the new world of racing is more and more a synergy between the racer and the analytics.
One standout is motorsport teams like TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, who's are transforming their approach to IT infrastructure, treating cybersecurity with the same precision and strategic importance as they would a finely tuned racing engine to deliver them victory after victory.
Here, Friedemann Kurz, Head of IT at Porsche Motorsport explains how TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team brings together IT and engineering to making a winning formula.
How has the role of IT in the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team vehicles evolved since the team joined Formula E?
IT has always had an important role in motorsport because it’s such a data-driven sport and Formula E is no different. Our role as an IT team has always been to ensure that our IT operations are secure and efficient, and we lean on partners like Cato Networks, so that our drivers can focus on driving and our team can focus on making the critical decisions that win races and championships.
Formula E has continued to evolve and become more advanced. Today, each race car is like a connected IoT device with dozens of sensors collecting millions of data points over a race weekend and transferring that back to the garage at track and our Test and Development Center in Weissach.
Understanding our performance and finding ways to improve helps us gain competitive advantage. So, as new technologies are implemented by the sport or the team, our IT network has to adapt and scale to incorporate new innovations.
What are the core IT systems present in the latest Porsche 99x Electric?
The core systems in the latest 99X Porsche Electric are designed to maximise performance and communication. At the heart of the car is the Vehicle Control Unit (VCU), which runs custom Porsche Motorsport-developed software. This sophisticated system manages critical functions such as power delivery, energy recovery, and vehicle dynamics, ensuring optimal efficiency and performance during races.
In addition to the VCU, the team leverages VoIP technology for seamless communication between the driver and the pit crew. This system ensures crystal-clear, real-time communication, enabling swift strategy adjustments and critical updates during high-pressure race scenarios.
What key benefits has the integration of advanced IT systems brought to the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team’s cars?
Integrating Cato’s SASE Cloud platform has been a game changer for us. It’s made our setup for a race weekend at the track faster and we’re less reliant on shipping IT hardware around the world because our entire network runs through the cloud. The move away from legacy hardware solutions has also meant that we get immediate access to new security and network features which means we have the latest tools to ensure our network works seamlessly.
We’re a small team with only one person from IT travelling for each E-Prix but Cato’s Cloud Platform and customer experience has made things easy. Cato supports us with any issues and provides us with a bespoke product to fit our specifications. We can also monitor and manage the network remotely which has reduced the need for additional personnel travelling with the team. Due to the Cloud Native Architecture, we can maintain and modify the System while it’s offline being shipped to the next event – there’s no need to have online appliances anymore.
What are the main vulnerabilities in modern connected vehicles, and how does the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team address these?
Firstly, the car operates independently to any IT system meaning the driver is completely safe and in control the entire time. However, as a public-facing sport, we are always going to be a target. Ransomware or a denial-of-service (DoS) attack could have a major impact on our network and prevent us from accessing critical data that could determine a race weekend, even the entire season.
Having a partner like Cato means we can manage access to our network and quickly address any suspicious or unauthorised users to ensure that our IT systems remain secure throughout the season.
How does the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team balance the benefits of connectivity with the need for robust cybersecurity?
Cato Network’s Cloud platform has provided many benefits in terms of connectivity and security. We’re able to prioritise key channels like communications telemetry data during a race.
Meanwhile, SASE has various security tools that ensure we remain secure but also when new tools like Safe TLS Inspection become available, we’re able deploy it immediately across our network. By implementing SASE, we’ve not had to compromise on either connectivity or security. Instead, we’ve been able to improve our IT network to work better for us as a Team and keep us secure.
What challenges does the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team face in protecting its vehicles against potential cyber attacks?
We’re like every other organisation that is a target for cyber threats, maybe even more as we are on compete in a global motorsport series which is shown on TV. Our vehicles run independently so there is no risk to the drivers when it comes to cyber security, but the data that the cars generate is important to our race weekend and our season.
We competed in 10 countries in 2024, some of which pose unique or heightened threats. We are grateful to have partners like Cato Networks to enable us to manage and secure our entire network from anywhere in the world, so while our team are on the ground they can focus on winning races.
How is the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team preparing its IT systems for future technologies considering both opportunities and risks?
Our IT strategy is focused on enabling the team to stay ahead of technological advancements while mitigating any existing and new cyber threats. Our partnership with Cato Networks has been instrumental in enhancing the resilience and agility of our IT systems.
With SASE implemented, we can scale our IT network to accommodate new technologies and ensure that, as more systems become connected, our network remains secure.
What impact has increased connectivity had on vehicle maintenance and servicing, particularly from a security perspective?
The increased connectivity we have because of Cato Networks has transformed vehicle maintenance and servicing, especially in the context of security and efficiency. Mission-critical functions, such as software adjustments to the car, which previously required trackside personnel, can now be managed remotely from Porsche’s Operations Room at our homebase of Porsche Motorsport in Weissach. This shift is made possible by reliable and secure connections, ensuring that these adjustments are performed seamlessly and without compromising data integrity.
Additionally, workloads that once ran exclusively on trackside IT systems have been transitioned to more flexible and scalable cloud systems. This improves operational efficiency and reduces the risk associated with maintaining sensitive data locally. With secure connectivity, teams can confidently perform updates and analysis while safeguarding critical systems from cyber threats. These advancements allow the team to optimise vehicle performance while maintaining robust security across all operations.
What emerging technologies or approaches does the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team see as potential game-changers in automotive cybersecurity?
Cyber security is a top priority for us as the sport is heavily driven by data. The capabilities of AI and machine learning seem to grow on a daily basis and will play a critical role in identifying and mitigating threats in real-time.
Cato Networks uses analyses network traffic patterns using AI is a prime example of this approach. It enables us to easily maintain a zero-trust approach to security and relieve our small IT team to focus on race operations.
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