Currently, professional motorsport is dominated by bubbles. Teams cannot mix with other teams and even within teams, there are separate social bubbles. This can make keeping track of who is where and, in the event of a positive Covid-19 test, who they have been with, somewhat challenging.
However, a new app has been designed to help teams, sponsors and race organisers navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, and eventually, could help teams bring guests and spectators safely back to racing circuits, along with the vital revenue they generate. The Guestia Digital Event and Travel Companion provides a means to track the health status of both staff and guests by alerting organisers to the health status of all app users, and is currently being deployed by the McLaren F1 team.
The app incorporates a range of features including a Health Hub, which allows users and organisers to record temperature measurements, self-report symptoms, provide Covid-19 test results and contact details, record quarantine periods and more. When implemented, this provides teams, hospitality providers and race organisers with a real-time solution to manage attendance at events.
Mark Norris, race operations director at McLaren Racing, explained, “The Guestia App allows our travel team to plan all individual travel and logistical arrangements for our racing team. With the outbreak of Covid-19, the platform enables McLaren to provide real-time information to all team members about the changing situation. It assists us in real-time communication with our team members, enabling us to update them quickly and effectively, keeping their health and safety a priority.”
