Guide
Backup race timing: why you need it and how to set it up for a small event
· 5 min read
In short
- Any timing system can fail: a battery can run out, a chip can become detached, or a reader can lose its connection. A backup ensures that the results do not depend on a single device.
- Formula 1 uses a second loop with its own decoder, while official FIM Enduro events require both a reserve timing system and independent backup timing.
- Even a small event can create a simple backup using a second phone, a paper record or finish-line video.
- The backup procedure must be tested in advance, and all devices must be synchronised.
Every technician who has experienced a system failure at an event knows that backup timing is not a luxury but an insurance policy. The costliest timing mistake is not the failure itself, but having no way to respond.
How professionals do it
At the Formula 1 finish line, backup timing runs alongside the primary loop: a second loop with its own decoder and a light beam across the track. If one system failed, the results could be verified using the other; learn more in How Formula 1 timing works. Official FIM Enduro events require a reserve timing system, independent backup timing and live online results; learn more in Race timing in enduro.
Backup for a small event
You do not need a second professional system. A few simple measures are enough:
- a second phone with an application, allowing another timekeeper to record passages independently of the main system,
- a paper start list, a pen and a watch for recording the finishing order and times,
- finish-line video that can be replayed to verify the order,
- spare batteries, power banks and a second reader, if possible.
Synchronisation is part of the backup
A backup is useful only if it can be compared with the main system. Synchronise every device before the start. Learn more in Clock synchronisation in race timing.
Data and offline mode
Backup planning also applies to data: the application must store records locally when there is no connection and transmit them once the connection returns. Without this, a network outage is enough to cause data loss.
Test before the start
Test the backup procedure before the event: cross the finish line with the chips, check that the records appear in both systems, and then clear everything. You can find other common causes of errors in The most common race-timing mistakes.
Backup with TAQIO
TAQIO stores records locally even without an internet connection and can combine RFID with manual tapping as a backup; learn more in RFID, NFC, QR or manual timing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the simplest backup for a small running race?
Use a second timekeeper with a phone to record finishers independently of the main system, or keep a paper finish sheet recording the order and time.
Why do professional sports use a second timing system?
It prevents a single failure from destroying the results. At the Formula 1 finish line, a second loop operates alongside the primary loop with its own decoder and a light beam across the track.
How can a backup be used to correct a missing passage?
The time from the second source is assigned to the competitor whose record is missing from the main system, allowing missing split times or a finish time to be restored.
Is a backup procedure necessary with RFID?
Yes. RFID can miss a chip that is poorly positioned or obstructed, so at least a manual backup at the finish is recommended.