THEON INTERNATIONAL is teaming up with Magenta Films and Red Bull Racing to do the impossible: a “Pitch Black Pit Stop”!

Making a pit stop is no small feat, let alone achieving it in total darkness! When Magenta Films joined forces with Red Bull Racing to present the world’s first pitch black pit stop, an obstacle surfaced: how would it be filmed in total darkness and how would everyone be kept safe? THEON INTERNATIONAL accepted the challenge and provided a solution specifically tailored to the needs of the venture!

Red Bull Racing’s pit stop crew is famous for its fastest pit stops, so the idea emerged that it could excel even in the dark! It took months of testing with infrared lights and cameras as well as THEON’s Night Vision Goggles (NVG): NYX and MIKRON.

THEON NVGs were mounted on custom-made helmets worn by the driver, Front & Rear Jackmen, and Chief Engineer to enable them to be fully aware in the dark ensuring compliance with safety measures. One of THEON’s engineers, Ioannis Leivadaros, was present during filming to guarantee the optimal fit of the NYX & MIKRON and to demonstrate how the NVGs are to be used by the crew.

“We are proud that THEON has been chosen since last May to be included in Red Bull Racing’s global spot, which always causes a sensation for its innovative approach. It is a spot that signals the dynamics and high quality of THEON’s night vision systems.

Our participation in this amazing venture has given us a new perspective on how champions work together to achieve the ultimate goal! Obstacles must be overcome and at THEON we do it in the most innovative way,” added Ioannis Leivadaros, Technical Project Manager of THEON SENSORS.

Also read: THEON SENSORS | Driven by high technology at EDEX 2023

“While we could explain the concept very briefly, finding ways to make the production and filming process technically feasible was much more difficult. Of course, the jackmen and the driver wore night-vision equipment to create the pit stop safely, but we had at least 30 crew members on set who needed to see to do their job.

THEON helped us overcome this obstacle and their help came through the Netherlands, Greece, and all over Europe. Admittedly, without their speed and ingenuity, it would have been much more difficult to achieve. THEON was, in F1 machinery terms, one of the cogs in the machine that enabled the team to operate,” said Marc Bodeman, Executive Producer of Magenta Films.

Watch the incredible performances of the Red Bull Racing crew as they tackle the challenges of total darkness: Pitch Black Pit Stop