Frequently
Asked Questions
Who is RaceControl designed for?
RaceControl is built for any track or activity that needs professional timing. Recreational karting tracks looking to automate their sessions, circuits running championships and leagues, team endurance races, car or motorcycle trackdays... The software is not limited to karts, it works with any type of vehicle as long as it has a transponder.
Does RaceControl need Internet?
No. RaceControl can run without an Internet connection. Features like live timing, the laptimer, user registration or updates will not be available, but timing, scoreboards and result printing work perfectly fine. If you lose your connection or temporarily have no Internet, track operations are not affected.
Can it run unattended?
Yes. When the program starts, a predefined session is pre-selected (for example: 15-minute Race). As soon as a vehicle crosses the finish line, the session begins automatically and ends when time or laps run out. Results are printed on their own and the system goes back to waiting for the next crossing. If during the session you need to extend, shorten or change the event type, you can do it without stopping anything.
Can I stream race timing on OBS or vMix?
Yes. RaceControl generates a timing graphics layer that you can integrate as a TV overlay in OBS Studio or vMix for your live broadcasts. Times, positions and race events update in real time over your video feed.
Does it work with my existing transponders?
RaceControl is compatible with AMB/MyLAPS, RaceResult and Cronolaps decoders. If you use a different system or have proprietary hardware, we can study how it works and add compatibility.
What if my transponders are old or the manufacturer is gone?
If you have old transponders, a discontinued decoder, or the manufacturer shut down and left you without support, you don't need to replace your equipment. It is more common than it sounds. This is custom hardware whose only compatible software is the one built for it years ago, so changing software ends up forcing you to change equipment and the investment escalates. RaceControl specializes in these cases. We analyze how your setup works and adapt the system to what you already have installed at the track, so you get modern, actively updated software without throwing away your hardware. Tell us the make and model you use and we'll confirm whether we can integrate it. In most cases all we need is a remote session to review how your equipment works and verify that the integration is feasible.
Bear in mind that some manufacturers still in business encrypt the communications of their equipment. In those cases we may need their cooperation or authorization to complete the integration.
How does the dual decoder work?
RaceControl allows you to connect two decoders from different manufacturers in the same session. This means vehicles with transponders from different brands can race together and the system merges their results into a single classification. It is especially useful at tracks that have switched providers and still have old and new transponders running in the same fleet.
Does it support multiple track layouts?
Yes. You can create different track configurations with their own length, corner count and independent lap records. This way the records from one layout do not interfere with another. Each layout can have its own specific track view, showing the position of every vehicle on track in real time once the course has been set up.
Can RaceControl handle team endurance races?
Yes. RaceControl lets you assign multiple drivers to a single vehicle or multiple vehicles to the same team, managing relays without the need to swap transponders. You can find all the details on our dedicated endurance racing page.
Does RaceControl support video scoreboards?
Yes. RaceControl offers direct output for external screens and monitors. You decide what information to display and at what size, adjusting columns, row height, colours and zoom. The system also includes an automatic day/night mode that adapts the display based on the time of day to ensure maximum readability in any lighting condition.
How does the laptimer app work?
If the track has the module, the driver just opens a web page on their phone and enters the number they are going to race with or want to follow. No install and no sign-up. From then on the laptimer shows information for that number rather than for one specific session, so it does not matter when they connect, because the data appears as soon as that vehicle is on track, in that session and in every session after it. Lap times come from the timing system itself, so they are the official ones, down to the thousandth, with no GPS estimation. The app has several screens the driver switches between to see each type of information at the largest possible size.
What you need
- An Android or iOS phone, from the browser, preferably Chrome.
- An internet connection on the phone, or the track Wi-Fi if available.
- A hands-free kit or wireless intercom for the voice feature.
What is the difference between the laptimer app and the steering wheel displays?
The app runs on the driver's own phone and requires no investment from the track or the user. A track can also choose to mount low-cost phones across its fleet, but that brings daily maintenance of battery charging, restarts and configuration.
The steering wheel displays are devices for permanent installation across the whole fleet, and they require prior mounting and wiring, a 5 V to 12 V power output from the vehicle and Wi-Fi coverage across the track. In exchange they offer a monochrome LCD screen readable in full sunlight that no phone or any other technology can match, physical buttons that are easier to hit and need no touchscreen gloves, multicolor warning LEDs and instant power-up the moment the vehicle supplies current, with no maintenance or intervention involved. They also receive messages from the team and race control, which the driver answers with those same buttons, though without the voice feature.