Circuit Paul Ricard

Powerful LED displays at the race track

For the modernization of the popular French racetrack, we had to find a solution that allows many viewing angles and guarantees brilliant quality despite intense sunlight.

Challenge

Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, South France, was modernized to host Formula 1 races again. Live broadcasts shall be shown on the centrally located LED displays. Furthermore, the screens need to display advertising and racing information. In Le Castellet the LED displays face a particularly large number of hours of sunshine and must be prepared for it.

Solution

We installed a total of four S[quadrat] SO[10 SMD] NT LED video displays for the circuit at a 15 m high, specially made pylon. The two 21 m² main screens show live broadcasts and advertisement in a 16:9 ratio. Two vertically aligned, 6 m high LED bars at the stand of the pylon will display racing information like positions and the number of laps. The maintenance levels, where the service can be carried out from the backside of the displays, are located inside of the pylon.

A pixel pitch of 10 mm is ideal to show the desired content. The chosen SMD LEDs ensure the required homogeneity and a wide viewing angle. Therefore, also the drivers can recognize the image content. Moreover, 6 mm long shaders protect the diodes against the strong sunlight and improve the contrast. Our S[quadrat] SX[BrightnessControl] regulates the brightness of the displays automatically according to the current light conditions.

On 24th June, 2018, the first Formula 1 race took place after 28 years. Thus, the LED displays could prove themselves shortly after their installation.