Mark Preston’s journey in motorsports, from his early days on an Australian farm to groundbreaking achievements in Formula 1 and Formula E, reflects his passion, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit. As Motorsport Director at Lola Cars, he continues to drive innovation with a focus on sustainability, marking him as a significant figure in the evolution of motorsports.
Author Archives: markandrewpreston
The StreetDrone Origin Story
STREETDRONE STORY_ If you want to understand how StreetDrone came to be, simply visit their office courtyard around the end of June every summer. The StreetDrone Summer Party has become legendary in the tech industry in the UK. In this little corner of Oxford, you’ll find autonomous vehicles running nonchalantly up and down the roadContinue reading “The StreetDrone Origin Story”
Lola Cars returning to top-tier global motorsport with technical partners Yamaha by joining the Formula E grid
Lola partners with Yamaha to enter ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, marking its return to global motorsport. The alliance aims to develop and supply high-performance electric powertrains, focusing on sustainability. Lola’s rich history and expertise in motorsport, combined with Yamaha’s innovation, promise exciting opportunities in the zero emissions transportation space.
Communication and the Use of LLMs in Motorsports
During his tenure at Arrows Grand Prix in 1999, the author used genetic algorithms to enhance F1 cars’ performance, a pioneering move at a time of limited computing power. Moving to McLaren, he considered implementing an ‘on-prem’ Google server to harness the team’s vast ’embedded knowledge.’ Experiencing communication difficulties at the Super Aguri team, he experimented with relocating pitwall engineering and exploring texting for in-car communication. Owing to computing advancements, machine learning has evolved, with tools like ChatGPT facilitating enhanced race communications and decision-making based on a data-informed ‘prompt engineering.’
An open letter to Scott Morrison: we need a green new deal. Now
Reposted after the original letter published Jan 11, 2020, on Medium Mark Preston has travelled through the world of the Australian automotive industry to Formula 1 and on to Formula E and autonomous vehicles, constantly considering the future of his favourite subject — cars. The race team he leads — DS TECHEETAH Formula E TeamContinue reading “An open letter to Scott Morrison: we need a green new deal. Now”
Autonomy: The future of motorsport and personal travel
Autonomous technology has the power to redefine driving, both on the race track and in our daily lives, states Mark Preston, Team Principal of the Team Aguri Formula E squad Autonomous vehicles have been a regular feature in the headlines over the past year as the technology has been refined and global brands such asContinue reading “Autonomy: The future of motorsport and personal travel”
When Racing and Virtual Reality Collide
Augmented reality has the potential to revolutionise sport, sustainability and transport in megacities. Formula racing is a vibrant, colourful, fast paced sport. Now, something new is set to offer its innovative, immersive motoring experiences to viewers beyond the trackside. The Oculus Rift is a new virtual reality headset that allows players to step into aContinue reading “When Racing and Virtual Reality Collide”
Winning ways in Buenos Aires
Wow, what a weekend! Amlin Aguri’s first win in the FIA’s first fully electric championship! It is an amazing feeling to get a result after all the work put in by the team over the last three years. “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” Plus it takes a lot of work to start a newContinue reading “Winning ways in Buenos Aires”
Why is the Foxconn announcement so interesting?
Like many young engineers, I wanted to build my own road car. I began to plan out how much it would cost, where I would buy parts, what would I use as a donor vehicle, how would I manufacture the bodywork and especially and most importantly: what engine would I use?! I didn’t just wantContinue reading “Why is the Foxconn announcement so interesting?”
Race to the future
A year from now, climate negotiators representing countries worldwide will be in Paris. They hope to finalise international agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change. Success will depend heavily on economic policy, and the new technologies to usher in a carbon light world. “Unlike treaties of the past, the Paris agreement needsContinue reading “Race to the future”