Rockingham, Europe’s fastest racing circuit and the first to be built in the UK since Brooklands in 1907, has experienced strong growth over the past few years. An increasing number of spectators and journalists attend racing events, both in person and online, and the venue has opened a 20-tenant business centre.
With its existing IT infrastructure under pressure, Rockingham turned to nationwide managed services provider IT Specialists (ITS), which has a team based in Lutterworth, to update Rockingham’s network, business continuity and communications systems.
When selecting a provider, zero downtime was a key requirement; Rockingham’s systems relay real-time information and timing heats for cars around the circuit countrywide 24/7. As this information is transmitted to thousands of viewers across the UK, Rockingham required 100 per cent system reliability to ensure that communications failure or lack of network access would not adversely affect the company’s reputation and credibility as a racing venue.
As speed of communication to the outside world needed to increase, ITS installed a dedicated internet line and recommended network switching. ITS improved Rockingham’s network infrastructure by installing and upgrading internet leased lines. To ensure bandwidth capacity, security and flexibility for the serviced offices, ITS switched Rockingham to a virtual local area network (VLAN) and upgraded the RBBC’s network backbone with fibre optic cabling.
ITS also connected a higher capacity server to support business growth and ensured faster data recovery by switching from traditional tape backup to software-based backups.
Shaun Curtis, facilities operations manager, Rockingham Motor Speedway, commented on the engagement: “We wanted a good, reliable and local company to carry out networking jobs for us. ITS was ideally located – if we had a problem, within an hour or so, ITS could have someone with the right skills and knowledge to resolve the problem right there and then.
“ITS’ trained staff and ability to always be on top of our requirements means that we are more than happy with the services we receive from them. Our existing relationship is one that we see continuing – ITS’ expertise and flexibility has been invaluable, particularly when we have been as busy as recently.”
Matt Kingswood, UK business head of ITS, commented: “Our expert advice and project management skills have enabled the Rockingham team to focus on their core business. Following the project, Rockingham has engaged ITS to manage IT support.”
The IT support provides reassurance of ongoing cover, eliminating the need to hire internal resources to carry out routine tasks. For example, an ITS engineer conducts a monthly systems check. ITS’ extended-hours service desk offers Rockingham staff access to IT support and knowledge when the ITS field engineer is off-site.
