Toyota’s issues in the final seven minutes led to Porsche taking victory at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which took place over the weekend of June 18-19.

For the first time ever, a special solution involved using rugged security cameras from Adimec featuring highly sensitive CMOS Global Shutter technology. These cameras were used to broadcast views inside the race cars during the iconic endurance race.

The sports car environment presents extreme challenges: constant shock and vibration, fluctuating temperatures, and very different lighting conditions – bright daylight versus nighttime low light situations. Meeting broadcast-quality image requirements across these varying conditions is a significant challenge for any camera system.

Broadcast Needs Greeted with Interest

Around February of this year, the responsible broadcast organization contacted Adimec to ask if we had cameras rugged enough for use inside sports cars during an entire race season. They needed equipment that could produce reliable broadcast-quality images despite these harsh conditions and temperature extremes up to 55°C.

A special requirement for Le Mans – the only major race held at night – was excellent performance in low light situations as well. This is particularly important since racing teams get real-time access to camera feeds, correlating them with telemetry data for analysis.

During nighttime broadcasts, onboard cameras often provide superior visuals compared to fixed-position cameras along the track. Fixed-position cameras tend to be blinded by car headlights, while onboard cameras can utilize these lights effectively (see Figure 1). Broadcasts reach 190 countries potentially exposing up to 820 million viewers – some even dedicated channels for onboard video feeds.

Figure 1: While fixed-position cameras struggle with headlight glare (left), onboard cameras maintain clear visuals in low light conditions (right).

Choosing the Right Camera

Based on our expertise, we recommended Adimec’s TMX74 camera featuring an SDI interface and a highly sensitive global shutter CMOS sensor optimized for challenging lighting conditions. Our extensive experience building rugged cameras confirmed it could withstand extreme vibrations and temperature variations while maintaining broadcast quality.

During bench testing with various lenses, the team became increasingly enthusiastic about potential applications beyond basic requirements. Having received our proposal in February, we delivered complete integration including RF link capabilities before Silverstone’s April race (see Figure 2). A prototype was provided for FIA screening during that event.

Figure 2: Schematic overview of how TMX74 cameras are integrated into Le Mans vehicles with wireless control systems.

Real-World Performance Confirmed

At Spa-Francorchamps on May 7th, multiple TMX74 installations in LM P1 cars demonstrated the system’s capabilities during endurance testing. Adimec provided requested on-site support but was largely unnecessary as our comprehensive documentation allowed smooth operation and configuration by the broadcast team.

On June 18th during Le Mans – despite its iconic status within the WEC series – multiple TMX74 cameras successfully captured images for worldwide broadcasts (Figure 3). While this race marked a significant milestone, ongoing competition continues to feature onboard camera feeds:

  • July 24: Nürburgring
  • Sep 3: Mexico City
  • Sep 18: Circuit of The Americas
  • Oct 16: Fuji Speedway
  • Nov 6: Shanghai International Circuit
  • Nov 19: Bahrain Grand Prix

Figure 3: Broadcast control center displaying streams from onboard cameras (indicated by red arrows) including Adimec’s TMX74 units.

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 21:03:09