Telemetry in racing: what the data reveals about the rider and the machine

By the Rage Mechanics workshop, in Lyon. Published on 11/13/2026. Reading time: 5 min.

Telemetry refers to the recording of data generated by a machine while it's in operation: its position, speed, current draw, battery voltage, and temperatures. In an electric vehicle, this data is particularly comprehensive because the controller already continuously measures most of these parameters. When interpreted correctly, this data reveals where the rider is losing time and where the machine is reaching its limits. Here's what is recorded, how to interpret it, and what it allows for in racing.

The essentials

  • The GPS provides the trajectory and speed at each point on the track, while the controller displays the current, voltage, and temperatures.
  • Comparing two laps, or two riders, clearly shows where time is gained and lost.
  • Machine data reveals overheating, battery sag, and cutouts before they escalate into failures.
  • At E'trott Racing, data acquisition is permitted but limited to a specific list of measurements, and no information should be transmitted between the trackside and the operating vehicle.

What is being recorded

From the rider's perspective: position and speed

A GPS receiver provides the machine's position several times per second. The higher the frequency, the more accurate the tracking: at high speeds, the machine travels several meters between measurements. An inertial measurement unit (IMU), which measures accelerations and rotations, complements the GPS: it indicates the braking force, the lateral acceleration when cornering, and the angle of the machine.

In terms of the equipment: electric and combustion engine options

The controller constantly monitors the current being sent to the motors, the current drawn from the battery, the voltage, the rotational speed, and often the temperatures of the motor and its own components. The battery's BMS (Battery Management System) can also provide the voltage of each cell group and their temperatures. All of this data often travels on a communication bus, the CAN bus, which is explained in our guide on the CAN bus.

What the data reveals about the rider

  • Braking points: On the speed graph, the beginning of each descent indicates where the rider brakes. Braking slightly later, a few meters at a time, is often the first improvement to be made.
  • Minimum speed in curves: This refers to the lowest speed point reached during each turn. A skilled rider maintains more speed in the middle of the turn.
  • Throttle application: The current curve shows when the rider accelerates again and with what degree of gradualness.
  • The trajectory: Overlaying the GPS tracks from two laps shows who enters the curve first and who cuts the corner too early.
  • Consistency: Very different runs reveal a rider who is still finding their rhythm.

The most useful information comes from comparisons: comparing a rider's best lap time to their average lap time, or comparing their lap time to that of a faster rider on the same machine. The difference can be seen lap by lap.

What the data reveals about the machine

  • Overheating: A motor or controller temperature that continuously increases lap after lap without stabilizing indicates a reduction in power, followed by a shutdown.
  • Battery Sag: The significant voltage drop with each acceleration indicates a battery that is operating at the limit of its capacity. Our guide on voltage drop during acceleration explains this in more detail.
  • Limitations: A current that consistently reaches the same maximum value indicates that a setting limit or a protective mechanism is in effect.
  • Defects: A brief interruption, invisible to the rider, may appear on the data curves and can be diagnosed before it becomes a failure.

What the regulations allow:

The FFM's E'trott Racing championship regulation 2026 permits the use of integrated dashboards with electronic data logging, geolocation, and data acquisition. However, data acquisition must be limited to the measurements listed: voltage, current, speed, battery level, maximum speed, power, temperature, time, lap time, total time, number of laps, distance traveled, and error codes.

Above all, no information should be transmitted from the trackside to the operating vehicle, nor from the vehicle to the trackside. In racing, telemetry is used for recording, and the data is analyzed after the vehicle has returned. Onboard timers are not considered telemetry, provided they do not interfere with the official timing. The rules change from season to season: please check the version for the current year.

Telemetry at Rage Mechanics

Our machines have been equipped with telemetry since 2023. This technology enabled Carole to create the very first scooter racing video with integrated telemetry in 2023, featuring the RM-One, a Dualtron Thunder prepared by our workshop, which reached a speed of 158 km/h. You can find the story on our E'trott Racing page.

Today, two solutions are available:

  • For the SmartDisplay, the EB6 GPS module, adjustable to 10 or 25 Hz, connects to the CAN bus and records trajectories and lap times; it has been tested in races with FFM transponders
  • RageLink, our system of controllers, displays, and telemetry, features the TelemetryBox V2 (GPS, inertial unit, SD card) and a web interface for timed laps and analysis. It is currently on a waiting list.

Workshop tip

Don't try to analyze everything at once. Start by focusing on three key metrics: speed, motor current, and motor temperature, both on your best lap and on an average lap. Aim to identify just one area for improvement per session. Data doesn't replace your feelings; it simply provides quantifiable information to support them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a smartphone sufficient for performing telemetry?

For an initial understanding of riding lines, a timing app on a smartphone can already provide some information. However, its GPS is less accurate and slower than a dedicated receiver, and it doesn't provide any information about the electrical system: current, voltage, and temperatures remain within the controller.

Why record at 25 Hz instead of 1 Hz?

At 100 km/h, the vehicle covers nearly 28 meters per second. With measurements taken once per second, a braking point or a curved trajectory appears blurred; with 25 measurements per second, there is a data point approximately every meter.

Is it possible to track the performance of the machine in real-time from the booth?

In E'trott Racing competitions, no: the regulations prohibit any transmission of information between the trackside personnel and the moving vehicle. During test runs or private testing, the organizer sets the rules.

How do you read the data from a VESC controller?

VESC Tool allows you to record and display data in real-time or after the fact. See our guide on VESC data logging.