Case Study: BMW Motorsport achieves secure, low-latency real-time race connectivity with Fortinet FortiGate

BMW Formula E Team Races Toward Innovation, Thanks To Fortinet Security-Driven Networking

BMW Motorsport’s Formula E program (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) depends heavily on real-time telemetry and data-driven strategy to manage limited battery power, but faces tight constraints: only one IT staffer is allowed trackside, the team must comply with BMW Group security policies, and networks must be set up quickly at varied global venues with zero tolerance for latency. Ensuring secure, low-latency connectivity between the track, the remote “ops room” in Munich, and headquarters was therefore a critical challenge.

BMW Motorsport deployed Fortinet FortiGate next‑generation firewalls in its ops room to provide automated IPsec VPN tunnels, easy web GUI management for the traveling IT specialist, and high-performance encrypted WAN paths. The solution delivered minimal latency (sub-100 ms video where tested), simplified global rollouts, full compliance with corporate security, and 100% uptime since deployment—enabling real-time data analysis that improved race strategy and car performance.

BMW Motorsport

Stefan Frost

Head of IT