By BAR F1 (14/03/2004)
March 14 2004

Lucky Strike BAR Honda is pleased to announce that it has extended its team supplier relationship with Matrix Network Solutions, the information technology company responsible for systems integration at the BAR F1 Team Operations Centre. The relationship was originally formed in 2003 for an initial one-year period, and this new phase in the partnership will see BAR and Matrix working together for a further two years.

In the high-technology sport of Formula One, it is vital for the team's communications network to operate faultlessly and efficiently, and provide the capability for any of the team's 400 employees to access information and communicate rapidly. Matrix will provide consultancy and technical support around BAR's core information technology networking hardware in order to facilitate this.

David France, Head of IT at BAR, commented "Speed and reliability are vital ingredients of a successful Formula One team and they are as important for the communications network upon which the team relies as they are to the race car itself. We are delighted that Matrix Network Solutions will be operating our communications network and has become an accredited supplier to the team. Matrix will be using its highly skilled network engineers to manage our communications network, ensuring that it provides the essential framework upon which the team carries out its operations both in the headquarters in Brackley and from there to the race track."

Ian Smith, Chief Executive of Matrix Communications Group Plc, added "In the high-technology sport of Formula One racing, optimum efficiency of communications technology is essential. I am delighted that BAR has decided that Matrix should continue to work with the team to achieve this. It is further evidence of Matrix's ability to win and keep significant contracts with high-profile businesses and that we are, indeed, recognised as one of the UK's leading providers of network solutions."