About – Racing Research | Racing Research

Jürgen Riegel

Dipl.-Inf. (FH), MBA · Motorsport Engineering · Systems Analysis

I focus on motorsport as a high-performance technical and organisational system. My work centres on the analysis of vehicle technology, data structures and decision-making processes under real-world extreme conditions, with the aim of meaningfully combining scientific methodology, interdisciplinary perspectives and practical interpretation.

Academic Background

My academic background is shaped by a scientific education with a focus on vehicle engineering, computer science, data science and management, complemented by a strong practical orientation and the continuous implementation of theoretical concepts into real-world applications.

Research Associate, Data Science, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (current)
Studies in Motorsport Management, Nürburgring / Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences
Studies in Business Informatics, Munich University of Applied Sciences
Studies in Vehicle Engineering, Munich University of Applied Sciences

About Racing Research

Racing Research is an independent research platform dedicated to the analysis of motorsport as a complex socio-technical system. The platform focuses on understanding how technology, organisation, human decision-making and environmental constraints interact under extreme operational conditions.

Rather than treating motorsport as spectacle, Racing Research approaches it as a real-world laboratory in which technological innovation, safety concepts and organisational processes can be observed, analysed and critically assessed.

Research Approach

The work conducted within Racing Research combines established scientific methods with interdisciplinary perspectives and practical experience. Quantitative data analysis, qualitative investigation and exploratory research approaches are integrated to gain a holistic understanding of motorsport-related systems.

A strong emphasis is placed on the transferability of insights beyond motorsport, particularly to other high-performance, safety-critical and technologically complex environments.

Areas of Interest

Motorsport as a research and validation environment
Digital transformation, data-driven methods and future technologies in motorsport
Safety as a systemic property of high-performance motorsport systems
Data analysis, process analysis and decision models
Technology transfer and contextualisation of technical innovations in the transition from research to application
Analysis and structuring of processes and workflows to support informed decision-making and targeted optimisation in professional motorsport environments
Additive manufacturing processes and rapid prototyping methods in the context of iterative development and experimental validation
Simulation-based driving systems (sim racing) as research and development environments for hardware and software interactions

Cooperation

Racing Research is open to cooperation with partners who share an interest in scientifically grounded analysis and exploratory research within the motorsport and automotive context.

Researchers and academic institutions from engineering, computer science and related disciplines
Automotive manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers with a focus on research, development and innovation
Professional motorsport teams and organisations
Drivers and practitioners interested in technical analysis and reflective feedback
Professionals, STEM students and private racing teams seeking structured knowledge exchange, including in the context of race tracks such as the Nürburgring

Cooperation is characterised by a clear interest in knowledge generation, open technical dialogue and the willingness to address research questions in an exploratory, systemic and interdisciplinary manner. Scientific publications are regarded as a possible and desirable outcome of such collaborations.

For inquiries regarding cooperation or academic exchange, please feel free to get in touch
(Jürgen Riegel, racing.research@mailbox.org).

Projects

Digitalization of the Nordschleife – Measures to Improve Race Track Safety, using the Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG as a Case Study

Completed research project

Digitalization of the Nordschleife – measures to improve the safety of a race track, using the Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG as a case study.

Scope and context: visual anomaly detection using track-side camera systems, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and traffic telematics, embedded in the broader context of safety, road traffic, motorsport and economic feasibility; operational and strategic risk management; management-oriented analysis and advisory work aimed at identifying and assessing future business cases within technological and organisational contexts.

This work investigates to what extent race track safety can be improved through the use of digital infrastructures and data-driven systems. Using the Nürburgring Nordschleife as a case study, the analysis examines how modern camera systems, digital signalling technologies and software-based evaluation methods can support race control and track safety operations.

An interdisciplinary case study approach was applied, combining qualitative and empirical methods, including literature reviews, structured stakeholder analyses, exploratory technical discussions, expert interviews and on-site observations. In addition, the technical feasibility of prototypical digital applications was investigated experimentally. From a theoretical perspective, the work draws on insights from traffic psychology, visual perception and concepts of data-driven anomaly detection.

The results demonstrate that digital infrastructures can make a significant contribution to increasing active safety during track-based driving events, particularly on complex and topographically demanding race tracks. At the same time, the findings indicate that digital safety measures are not only safety-relevant but can also be integrated into existing operational structures in an economically and organisationally viable manner. The insights gained extend beyond the specific case study and are generally transferable to other race tracks, comparable testing and validation environments, as well as to road traffic applications.

Keywords: Nürburgring, Nordschleife, race track, track safety, digital track safety systems, race control, digitalization, infrastructure, LED panels, traffic monitoring, safety, camera systems, artificial intelligence (AI), software systems, machine vision, computer vision, visual anomaly detection, traffic psychology

Further information about the project →

Crowdcar

Interdisciplinary development and research project

Crowdcar was conceived as an interdisciplinary think tank aimed at the prototypical development and testing of an electrically powered vehicle within the EU type-approval class L7e. The focus was not on series production, but on the systematic investigation of technological feasibility, development processes and cross-organisational collaboration.

The project served as a blueprint for rapid prototyping approaches in an automotive context and examined how complex technical systems can be realised with limited resources, yet with clear structure and interdisciplinary expertise.

Particular emphasis was placed on knowledge transfer between engineering disciplines, computer science, design and practical implementation, as well as on the question of which manufacturing and development processes are technically viable outside traditional industrial structures.

The insights gained from the project provide valuable impulses for alternative development models, early concept validation and innovation-driven vehicle development.

Further information about the project →

Additional Projects (Brief Overview)

Digital Transformation: What’s Next? – How Does Paperless Cross-Border Transport Work? (FIA Conference, poster)
The continuation of Formula 1 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with empty grandstands, from the perspective of different stakeholders
Advantages and disadvantages of just-in-time deliveries in automotive manufacturing, illustrated by selected case studies
Sponsorship in motorsport – how stakeholders can promote sustainability, diversity and inclusion
Intercultural management in the context of globalisation and skilled labour shortages
Approaches to evaluating measures in motorsport sponsorship
Sustainability in motorsport, using the activities of the FIA and DMSB as examples
Advantages and disadvantages of a salary cap, using professional football as a case study
Descriptive statistical analysis of technical systems using R