RaceTagger Participant Presets: Complete Setup Guide

What Are Participant Presets?

Participant Presets are reusable databases of driver/team information that RaceTagger uses to automatically match detected race numbers to the people behind them.

Without a preset:

• AI detects race number: 51
• You manually search and type: "Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi, Ferrari"
• Repeat for every number in every photo
• Time: 30-60 seconds per photo

With a preset:

• AI detects race number: 51
• Automatic match: "51 = A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi, Ferrari AF Corse"
• All metadata written instantly
• Time: <1 second per photo

The benefit: What takes 8 hours manually takes 30 minutes with presets.

Two Ways to Create Presets

RaceTagger gives you flexibility:

Method 1: Import CSV File (Fastest)

• Best for: Events with official entry lists
• Time: 2-5 minutes
• Perfect for: Championship series, large events

Method 2: Manual Entry (Most Flexible)

• Best for: Small events, custom data
• Time: 10-20 minutes for small events
• Perfect for: Club races, track days

Most photographers use both: Import CSV for big events, manual entry for local races.

Understanding RaceTagger's CSV Format

RaceTagger supports two CSV formats optimized for different types of motorsport.

Format 1: Individual Sports (F1, MotoGP, Single-Seater)

When to use: One driver per vehicle

Structure:

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
1,Max Verstappen,Oracle Red Bull Racing,Oracle,F1 - 1 - Max Verstappen
44,Lewis Hamilton,Scuderia Ferrari HP,HP,F1 - 44 - Lewis Hamilton
16,Charles Leclerc,Scuderia Ferrari HP,HP,F1 - 16 - Charles Leclerc
63,George Russell,Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team,Petronas,F1 - 63 - George Russell

Real-world example from F1 2025 season:

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
1,Max Verstappen,Oracle Red Bull Racing,Oracle,F1 - 1 - Max Verstappen
4,Lando Norris,McLaren Formula 1 Team,,F1 - 4 - Lando Norris
5,Gabriel Bortoleto,Kick Sauber F1 Team,Kick,F1 - 5 - Gabriel Bortoleto
6,Isack Hadjar,Visa Cash App Racing Bulls,Visa Cash App,F1 - 6 - Isack Hadjar

Format 2: Non-Individual Sports (WEC, IMSA, Endurance, Rally)

When to use: Multiple drivers per vehicle

Structure:

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
51,"A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi",Ferrari AF Corse,,"WEC - 51 - A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi"
7,"M. Conway, K. Kobayashi, N. de Vries",Toyota Gazoo Racing,,"WEC - 7 - M. Conway, K. Kobayashi, N. de Vries"

Real-world example from WEC 2025:

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
007,"H. Tincknell, T. Gamble",Aston Martin THOR Team,,"WEC - 007 - H. Tincknell, T. Gamble"
5,"J. Andlauer, M. Christensen, M. Jaminet",Porsche Penske Motorsport,,"WEC - 5 - J. Andlauer, M. Christensen, M. Jaminet"
51,"A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi",Ferrari AF Corse,,"WEC - 51 - A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi"

Important: Use quotes around driver names when multiple drivers have commas between them.

Column Breakdown: What Each Field Does

Number (REQUIRED)

What it is: The race number visible on the vehicle

Rules:

• Must match exactly what appears on the car
• Can be pure numbers: 1, 44, 51
• Can include leading zeros if on car: 007
• Can include letters if official: P1, 44X

Examples:

Number
1
44
007
P1

How it's used:

• AI detects this number in photos
• Matches to this row in your preset
• Triggers automatic metadata writing

Driver (REQUIRED)

What it is: Driver name(s) - supports single or multiple drivers

Format options:

Single driver (F1, MotoGP):

Driver
Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc

Multiple drivers (WEC, IMSA, Rally):

Driver
"A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi"
"M. Conway, K. Kobayashi, N. de Vries"
"H. Tincknell, T. Gamble"

IMPORTANT: Use quotes when listing multiple drivers with commas

How it's written to metadata:

• Each driver becomes a separate clean keyword
• For "A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi":
  • Keyword 1: A. Pier Guidi
  • Keyword 2: J. Calado
  • Keyword 3: A. Giovinazzi
• No prefixes like "driver_" or "pilota_"
• Just clean, searchable names

Best practices:

• Consistent format throughout file
• Full names: Max Verstappen or abbreviated: M. Verstappen
• For rally (driver + co-driver): "S. Ogier, V. Landais"

Team (OPTIONAL but recommended)

What it is: Team, constructor, or entrant name

Examples:

Team
Oracle Red Bull Racing
Scuderia Ferrari HP
Ferrari AF Corse
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Aston Martin THOR Team

How it's written to metadata:

• Becomes a clean keyword (no "team_" prefix)
• Example: Ferrari AF Corse (exactly as written)
• Searchable in Lightroom/Photo Mechanic

How it helps recognition:

• AI uses team info to improve detection accuracy
• If multiple cars from same team, helps distinguish
• Contextual hints for partial number reads

Uses:

• Filter photos by team
• Organize deliverables by team
• Team package sales (many teams buy all their photos)

Sponsors (OPTIONAL)

What it is: Key sponsors for additional keywords and recognition help

Format:

• Single sponsor: Oracle
• Multiple sponsors: Leave empty or single main sponsor
• Text without quotes needed

Examples:

Sponsors
Oracle
HP
Petronas
Visa Cash App
Kick

How it's written to metadata:

• Becomes a clean keyword
• Example: Oracle (exactly as written)
• Helps with searchability

How it helps recognition:

• AI considers sponsor info for context
• Major livery sponsors help identify cars
• Particularly useful when numbers are partially obscured

Pro tip: Include the most visible sponsor on the livery

Metatag (OPTIONAL but powerful)

What it is: Custom description text written to your photo's description field

Format: Free-form text - you decide the structure

Common patterns:

Pattern 1: Series - Number - Driver(s)

Metatag
F1 - 1 - Max Verstappen
F1 - 44 - Lewis Hamilton
"WEC - 51 - A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi"

Pattern 2: Event - Category - Number

Metatag
Monza 2025 - F1 - 1
Le Mans 2025 - Hypercar - 51

Pattern 3: Client/Package identifier

Metatag
Team Package Premium - Ferrari AF Corse
VIP Client - Red Bull Racing

Where it appears:

• RAW files: Written to XMP sidecar file
• JPEG files: Written to IPTC metadata
• In Lightroom: Description field
• In Photo Mechanic: Caption field
• In Capture One: Description field

Why this matters:

• This exact text appears as your photo description
• Super searchable
• Can include event name, date, or any custom info
• Appears in photo info panels

Real-World CSV Examples

Formula 1 (2025 Season)

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
1,Max Verstappen,Oracle Red Bull Racing,Oracle,F1 - 1 - Max Verstappen
4,Lando Norris,McLaren Formula 1 Team,,F1 - 4 - Lando Norris
5,Gabriel Bortoleto,Kick Sauber F1 Team,Kick,F1 - 5 - Gabriel Bortoleto
6,Isack Hadjar,Visa Cash App Racing Bulls,Visa Cash App,F1 - 6 - Isack Hadjar
7,Jack Doohan,Alpine F1 Team,,F1 - 7 - Jack Doohan
10,Pierre Gasly,Alpine F1 Team,,F1 - 10 - Pierre Gasly
16,Charles Leclerc,Scuderia Ferrari HP,HP,F1 - 16 - Charles Leclerc
44,Lewis Hamilton,Scuderia Ferrari HP,HP,F1 - 44 - Lewis Hamilton
63,George Russell,Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team,Petronas,F1 - 63 - George Russell
81,Oscar Piastri,McLaren Formula 1 Team,,F1 - 81 - Oscar Piastri

WEC Endurance Racing (2025)

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
007,"H. Tincknell, T. Gamble",Aston Martin THOR Team,,"WEC - 007 - H. Tincknell, T. Gamble"
009,"A. Riberas, M. Sørensen",Aston Martin THOR Team,,"WEC - 009 - A. Riberas, M. Sørensen"
5,"J. Andlauer, M. Christensen, M. Jaminet",Porsche Penske Motorsport,,"WEC - 5 - J. Andlauer, M. Christensen, M. Jaminet"
7,"M. Conway, K. Kobayashi, N. de Vries",Toyota Gazoo Racing,,"WEC - 7 - M. Conway, K. Kobayashi, N. de Vries"
8,"S. Buemi, B. Hartley, R. Hirakawa",Toyota Gazoo Racing,,"WEC - 8 - S. Buemi, B. Hartley, R. Hirakawa"
51,"A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi",Ferrari AF Corse,,"WEC - 51 - A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi"
83,"R. Kubica, Y. Ye, P. Hanson",AF Corse,,"WEC - 83 - R. Kubica, Y. Ye, P. Hanson"

Rally Championship (Driver + Co-Driver)

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
1,"S. Ogier, V. Landais",Toyota Gazoo Racing,,WRC - 1 - Ogier/Landais
11,"T. Neuville, M. Wydaeghe",Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT,,WRC - 11 - Neuville/Wydaeghe
33,"E. Evans, S. Martin",Toyota Gazoo Racing,,WRC - 33 - Evans/Martin
4,"E. Lappi, J. Ferm",Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT,,WRC - 4 - Lappi/Ferm

Club Racing / Track Day

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
13,John Smith,Smith Racing,,Club - 13 - John Smith
44,Sarah Johnson,Independent,,Club - 44 - Sarah Johnson
77,Mike Williams,Williams Motorsport,,Club - 77 - Mike Williams
88,Lisa Chen,Chen Racing Team,,Club - 88 - Lisa Chen

Method 1: Import CSV File (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Get or Create Your CSV

Option A: Download Official Entry List

Most series provide downloadable entry lists:

• Formula 1: FIA.com, Formula1.com
• WEC: FIAWec.com → Media → Entry List
• IMSA: IMSA.com → Series Info
• MotoGP: MotoGP.com → Riders
• Rally: WRC.com → Entries
• Club racing: MotorsportReg.com, event websites

Option B: Convert from PDF/Excel

If you have a PDF or Excel entry list:

1. Open in Excel or Google Sheets

2. Rearrange columns to match RaceTagger format:

   • Column A: Number
   • Column B: Driver
   • Column C: Team
   • Column D: Sponsors
   • Column E: Metatag

3. Format driver names:

   • Single driver: Simple text: Max Verstappen
   • Multiple drivers: Use quotes: "A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi"

4. Save as CSV:

   • Excel: File → Save As → CSV (Comma delimited)
   • Google Sheets: File → Download → Comma-separated values (.csv)

Option C: Create from Scratch

For small events without official lists:

1. Open Excel or Google Sheets
2. Create header row: Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
3. Fill in data rows
4. Save as CSV

Template:

Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
1,John Smith,Smith Racing,,Club - 1 - John Smith
2,Sarah Johnson,Independent,,Club - 2 - Sarah Johnson
3,Mike Williams,Williams Motorsport,,Club - 3 - Mike Williams

Step 2: Import into RaceTagger

1. Open RaceTagger desktop app

2. Create or select a project

   • Click "New Project" or open existing
   • Name it: "Monza WEC 2025"

3. Navigate to Participant Presets

   • Look for "Participant Preset" section
   • Click "Import CSV" or similar button

4. Select your CSV file

   • File browser opens
   • Navigate to your prepared CSV
   • Click "Open"

5. Verify import

   • RaceTagger shows preview of data
   • Check that:
     • Numbers are correct
     • Driver names display properly
     • Teams are correct
     • No formatting errors

6. Save as reusable preset (recommended)

   • Give it a name: "WEC 2025 Season"
   • Save for future events
   • Reuse with one click

Import time: 2-3 minutes

Step 3: Use the Preset in Analysis

When analyzing photos:

1. Select your photo folder
2. Choose the imported preset from dropdown
3. Configure processing settings
4. Click "Start Analysis"
5. AI detects numbers + matches to preset + writes all metadata

Processing time: 20-30 minutes for 1,000 photos

What gets written to each photo:

Keywords (clean, no prefixes):

• Each driver name (separate keywords)
• Team name
• Sponsor (if provided)

Description:

• Your Metatag text exactly as written

Example for car #51 (WEC):

Keywords:
- A. Pier Guidi
- J. Calado
- A. Giovinazzi
- Ferrari AF Corse

Description:
WEC - 51 - A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi

Method 2: Manual Entry (Step-by-Step)

For small events when you don't have a CSV file:

Step 1: Create New Preset

1. Open RaceTagger
2. Navigate to Participant Presets
3. Click "Create New Preset" (or similar)
4. Name your preset: "Monza Club Race March 2025"

Step 2: Add Participants One by One

For each car/driver:

1. Click "Add Participant" or "New Entry"

2. Fill in the form:

   • Number: 51 (required)
   • Driver: Alessandro Pier Guidi (required)
   • Team: Ferrari AF Corse
   • Sponsors: Shell
   • Metatag: Monza 2025 - GT3 - 51

3. For multiple drivers (endurance/rally):

   • Driver field: A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi
   • Or use separate input fields if UI provides them

4. Click "Save" or "Add"

5. Repeat for each car

Quick entry tips:

• Use Tab key to navigate between fields
• Copy/paste team names for consistency
• Skip optional fields if not needed
• Most important: Number + Driver

Step 3: Save and Reuse

1. Save the preset

   • Click "Save Preset"
   • Choose a descriptive name: "Ferrari AF Corse Team 2025"

2. Reuse at future events

   • Load the saved preset
   • Update any changed drivers/numbers
   • Save as new version if needed

Manual entry time: 10-20 minutes for 20-30 cars

Understanding How Metadata is Written

What You'll See in Lightroom

After processing with RaceTagger:

Keywords Panel:

• Clean, searchable keywords
• No prefixes (no "driver_", "team_", etc.)
• Example for car #51 WEC:
  • A. Pier Guidi
  • J. Calado
  • A. Giovinazzi
  • Ferrari AF Corse

Library Filter:

• Search any keyword: "Pier Guidi"
• All photos of that driver appear
• Search "Ferrari AF Corse"
• All photos of that team appear

Description/Caption Field:

• Your Metatag appears here
• Example: WEC - 51 - A. Pier Guidi, J. Calado, A. Giovinazzi

What You'll See in Photo Mechanic

Keywords:

• Same clean keywords as Lightroom
• Available in search/filter

Caption:

• Your Metatag text

IPTC Info:

• All metadata visible in info panel

What You'll See in Capture One

Keywords:

• Clean keywords in Keywords tool
• Searchable and filterable

Description:

• Your Metatag in metadata fields

Technical Details

For RAW files:

• Metadata written to XMP sidecar file (.xmp)
• Original RAW file untouched
• XMP travels with RAW file

For JPEG files:

• Metadata embedded in IPTC fields
• Direct modification of JPEG
• All software reads IPTC standard

Best Practices for Preset Management

Naming Conventions

Use descriptive, consistent names:

F1_2025_Complete_Grid.csv
WEC_2025_Season_All_Classes.csv
Monza_Club_Race_March_2025.csv
Rally_Finland_2025_Entry.csv

Include in filename:

• Series/Championship
• Year
• Specific event (if event-specific)
• Version number if updating

Organizing Your Presets

Create a logical folder structure:

RaceTagger_Presets/
├── 2025/
│   ├── F1/
│   │   ├── F1_2025_Season_Grid.csv
│   │   ├── F1_2025_Monaco_Updated.csv
│   │   └── F1_2025_Monza_Final.csv
│   ├── WEC/
│   │   ├── WEC_2025_Full_Season.csv
│   │   └── WEC_2025_Le_Mans_Entry.csv
│   ├── Rally/
│   │   └── WRC_2025_Season.csv
│   └── Club/
│       ├── Local_Track_Spring_2025.csv
│       └── Local_Track_Summer_2025.csv
└── 2024/
    └── Archive/

Version Control

Track changes:

WEC_2025_v1.csv              # Original season entry
WEC_2025_v2.csv              # After mid-season driver changes
WEC_2025_LeMans_FINAL.csv    # Race weekend confirmed

Why version control matters:

• Driver changes mid-season
• Last-minute substitutions
• Keep history for reference

Seasonal Master Presets

For championship series:

1. Create master preset at season start

• All teams
• All regular drivers
• Baseline data

2. Event-specific versions

• Copy master
• Adjust for specific event changes
• Save with event name

3. Season archive

• Keep complete season preset
• Useful for multi-year photo searches
• Reference for next season

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: CSV Import Fails

Error: "Invalid format" or "Cannot read file"

Possible causes:

• Wrong column headers
• Missing required columns (Number, Driver)
• File encoding issues

Solutions:

1. Check headers: First row must be exactly: Number,Driver,Team,Sponsors,Metatag
2. Required columns: At minimum, you need Number and Driver
3. Encoding: Save as UTF-8 (most editors do this by default)
4. File extension: Must be .csv not .xlsx or .xls

Issue 2: Multiple Drivers Not Parsing Correctly

Problem: Comma-separated drivers break into separate entries

Wrong:

Driver
Pier Guidi, Calado, Giovinazzi

This creates chaos because commas separate CSV columns

Correct - use quotes:

Driver
"Pier Guidi, Calado, Giovinazzi"

Quotes tell CSV parser this is one field

In Excel:

• Type the apostrophe first: 'Pier Guidi, Calado
• Or wrap in quotes manually

Issue 3: Numbers Not Matching During Analysis

Problem: AI detects number but preset doesn't match

Causes:

• Leading zeros: Preset has 7, car shows 07 (or vice versa)
• Spaces: Preset has 44, AI reads 4 4
• Letter confusion: Preset has P1, car shows ambiguous

Solutions:

1. Match exactly: If car shows 007, use 007 in preset
2. If car shows 7: Use 7 not 07 in preset
3. Check AI detection log: See what AI actually read
4. Trust fuzzy matching: RaceTagger has smart corrections (6↔8, 1↔7, O↔0)

Issue 4: Special Characters Display Wrong

Problem: Accents don't display: José → Jos??, Sébastien → S??bastien

Solution:

• Save CSV with UTF-8 encoding
• Excel: File → Save As → Tools → Web Options → Encoding → UTF-8
• Google Sheets: Always saves UTF-8 automatically (recommended)
• Text editor: Choose UTF-8 in save dialog

If problems persist:

• Use ASCII alternatives: José → Jose, Sébastien → Sebastien
• Less ideal but always works

Issue 5: Team Names Inconsistent

Problem: Same team written different ways in different rows

Examples:

• Ferrari AF Corse vs AF Corse Ferrari
• Red Bull Racing vs Red Bull
• Mercedes-AMG vs Mercedes

Solution:

1. Decide on one format (usually official name)
2. Use Find & Replace in Excel before import
3. Copy/paste team names instead of retyping
4. Create a team reference list for consistency

Advanced Features

Fuzzy Matching

RaceTagger intelligently handles OCR errors:

Common corrections:

• 61 instead of 51 → System suggests 51 from preset
• O instead of 0 → Auto-corrects to 0
• 1 instead of 7 → Offers possible matches
• 8 instead of 6 → Fuzzy match suggests 6

Your preset should:

• Use standard, correct numbers
• Let the system handle variations automatically
• Review low-confidence detections for edge cases

Temporal Clustering

For burst sequences (your camera's continuous shooting):

Scenario: 5-photo burst of car #51, but only 2 photos have clear number

What RaceTagger does:

1. Photo 1: Clear detection → 51
2. Photos 2-3: Blurry/partial (no clear number)
3. Photo 4: Clear detection → 51
4. Photo 5: Motion blur (no number)
5. Smart clustering: All 5 photos tagged as 51
6. Based on time proximity (captured within 250ms-2000ms)

Your benefit:

• Burst sequences automatically tagged
• Even if only one photo has clear number
• No manual work needed

Multi-Vehicle Photos

When photo contains multiple cars:

AI detects: 51, 83, 7

RaceTagger matches all three:

• Keywords: All drivers from all three cars
• Keywords: All three teams
• Description: Lists all detected vehicles with confidence scores

Perfect for:

• Start line photos (multiple cars visible)
• Battle/overtake shots (2-3 cars)
• Pack racing
• Corner shots with multiple cars

Example metadata for photo with #51 and #83:

Keywords:
- A. Pier Guidi
- J. Calado
- A. Giovinazzi
- Ferrari AF Corse
- R. Kubica
- Y. Ye
- P. Hanson
- AF Corse

Description:
RaceTagger Analysis Results:
Race Number: 51, 83
Multiple vehicles detected.

Vehicle 1:
  Race Number: 51
  Confidence: 95%

Vehicle 2:
  Race Number: 83
  Confidence: 88%

Complete Workflow Integration

Full Workflow with Presets

1. Before Event (15 minutes):

• Download or create CSV participant preset
• Import to RaceTagger
• Save as reusable preset
• Test with sample photos if available

2. During Event:

• Shoot as normal
• No changes to photography workflow
• Use burst mode freely (clustering handles it)

3. Post-Event Processing (30-40 minutes):

• Open RaceTagger
• Select photo folder
• Choose participant preset from dropdown
• Configure processing (Balanced preset recommended)
• Click "Start Analysis"
• AI + preset = automatic organization

4. Review (10-15 minutes):

• Check low-confidence detections
• Verify unusual cases
• Make corrections if needed
• Most photos need zero intervention

5. Import to Editing Software (5 minutes):

• Import to Lightroom/Photo Mechanic/Capture One
• All metadata already in place
• Filter by driver/team instantly
• Start culling and editing immediately

Total time: 60-70 minutes vs 8-10 hours manual

Preset Reuse Strategy

Single-driver championships (F1, MotoGP):

• One master preset for entire season
• Update if driver changes (substitutions, injuries)
• Reuse at every race weekend
• Update once, benefit 20+ times per season

Multi-driver endurance (WEC, IMSA):

• Seasonal preset covers most events
• Check for car/driver lineup changes
• Update for event-specific entries
• Most teams stay consistent

Club racing / Track days:

• Location-specific presets
• Update as regulars change
• Archive by season for year-over-year comparisons
• Small updates each event

Rally championships:

• Driver/co-driver pairs usually consistent
• Update for guest entries
• One preset covers most events

ROI: Time Investment vs Savings

One-Time Learning Investment

First time setup:

• Learn CSV format: 10 minutes
• Create first preset: 15-30 minutes
• Test with sample photos: 10 minutes
• Total: 35-50 minutes one-time

Per-Event Time Breakdown

With Participant Preset:

• Select/load preset: 30 seconds
• AI processing: 20-30 minutes
• Review detections: 10-15 minutes
• Total: 30-45 minutes

Without Preset (manual):

• Open each photo: 2 seconds
• Identify car number: 3 seconds
• Search driver name: 5 seconds
• Type metadata: 10 seconds
• Per photo: 20 seconds
• 1,000 photos: 5.5 hours
• With breaks/fatigue: 6-10 hours

Time saved per event: 5.5-9.5 hours

Seasonal ROI

Formula 1 season (23 races):

• Preset creation: 30 minutes (once)
• Per-race processing: 30 minutes
• Total season: 12 hours
• vs Manual: 180+ hours
• Saved: 168 hours = 4+ work weeks

Club racing (20 events/year):

• Preset updates: 10 minutes per event
• Per-event processing: 30 minutes
• Total season: 13 hours
• vs Manual: 120+ hours
• Saved: 107 hours = 2.5+ work weeks

Financial ROI

At $50/hour rate:

• Time saved per event: 6-8 hours
• Value per event: $300-400
• 10 events/year: $3,000-4,000 saved
• Token cost: ~$200-300/year
• Net savings: $2,700-3,700/year

The math is simple: Presets pay for themselves after the first event.

Tips from Professional Photographers

Tip 1: Create Preset Library

Build a library of reusable presets:

• F1 seasons (update yearly)
• WEC/IMSA seasons
• Local track regulars
• Rally championships

Benefit: 90% of future events = instant preset loading

Tip 2: Share Presets with Team

If you work with other photographers:

• Share CSV files via Dropbox/Google Drive
• Standardize naming conventions
• Collaborate on updates
• Everyone benefits from accuracy

Tip 3: Verify Before Race Day

Best practice:

1. Download entry list 2-3 days before event
2. Create CSV preset
3. Test with practice session photos
4. Fix any issues before race day
5. Race day = smooth, tested workflow

Tip 4: Keep Event Notes in Metatag

Use Metatag creatively:

• Monza 2025 - Wet Race - Car 51
• Le Mans 2025 - Night Stint - Car 7
• Client VIP Package - Ferrari

Why: Future you will thank present you for context

Tip 5: Update During Event

For multi-day events:

• Update preset between sessions
• Last-minute driver changes happen
• 5 minutes update saves hours later
• Keep master + event-specific versions

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

Problem	Solution
CSV won't import	Check headers match exactly, save as UTF-8
Multiple drivers not working	Use quotes: "Driver1, Driver2, Driver3"
Numbers not matching	Ensure preset matches car exactly (007 vs 7)
Accents display wrong	Save CSV as UTF-8 encoding
Missing metadata	Verify XMP files created, refresh software cache
Inconsistent team names	Standardize spelling before import

Next Steps

Further Reading

• How to Organize 1000+ Race Photos in 30 Minutes
• Complete Motorsport Photography Workflow 2025
• Photo Mechanic + RaceTagger Integration

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Download Templates:

• F1 Season Template CSV (coming soon)
• WEC/IMSA Template CSV (coming soon)
• Rally Championship Template CSV (coming soon)
• Club Racing Template CSV (coming soon)

About the Author: The RaceTagger Team works with motorsport photographers worldwide, from Formula 1 to local club racing. We've processed participant data for over 500 events and counting.

Questions about participant presets? Email us: info@racetagger.cloud