Execution

Internavi is a car navigation system provided by Honda that designs driving experiences with the power of real-time driving data collected from vehicles. Its roots go back to the 1980s when Honda introduced telemetry system to Formula One and stormed the world. Honda has been testing and perfecting this system in racing cars ever since and today it supports not only F1 drivers but also everyday drivers around the world. Despite this fact, the origin and core technology of Internavi’s navigation is still not widely known. Our mission was to tell the possibilities of this technology. Idea: We re-enacted the world’s fastest lap set by Ayrton Senna while qualifying for 1989 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix from a single sheet of paper. Execution: Every aspect of Senna’s driving data recorded in 1989 was digitally restored/analyzed. Engine sound of McLaren Honda MP4/5 was re-created by combining driving data collected in 1989 with engine tones recorded today. Outdoor: Hundreds of networked speakers were placed along the race line bringing back the unique yet dynamic sound of the Formula 1 machine, which could be felt with the whole body. LED lights also set around the circuit synchronized with Senna’s location at that moment down to the millisecond. People could feel Ayrton Senna race through Suzuka just as he did that day. Additional elements of the campaign: Website: Senna’s engine sound of the full lap could be heard together with full telemetry data. On a WebGL-based website, Senna’s record breaking lap was generated with 3DCG. People could experience Senna race through Suzuka from different angles. App: Everyone could drive to the engine sound of Senna’s McLaren Honda MP4/5 using GPS/acceleration sensor of smartphone. Radio: A radio ad featuring Senna’s re-created from data engine sound of the 1989 record setting lap was aired.