The narrative of Ian Clatworthy from Hitachi Vantara is a testament to the transformative power of data in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing. His journey, spanning nearly a decade, reveals a saga where the integration of IT services into the motorsport arena revolutionized the field. Clatworthy’s experience with Mitsubishi Ralliart and Honda Racing, two titans of the racing world, provided him with a front-row seat to the digital metamorphosis in this competitive sport.
This transformation is vividly captured in the upcoming Hulu and Disney+ documentary “Brawn: The Impossible F1 Story,” which chronicles the Brawn GP team’s underdog triumph in the Formula 1 World Championship. Despite its short lifespan and limited financial resources, the team’s strategic use of data propelled them to victory. Clatworthy’s role in this team exemplifies how technology can overturn expectations and redefine success. Reflecting on the early days, Clatworthy recalls the nascent stage of IT in motorsports, where even bending rules was part of the game to ensure that engineers had rapid access to crucial car data. This ingenuity was the precursor to a pivotal shift in the 2000s when IT teams became a staple at racing events, affirming the belief that technology could be leveraged to gain a competitive edge.