Current practices in Motor Sport Safety.
The vehicles used in all forms of motor sport today are safer than they have ever been (see history section). Millions of dollars are spent worldwide every year in an effort to make the drivers and spectators as safe as possible. This section will examine the current regulations and practices, as stipulated by the FIA, mainly in Formula One, emergency response and track design. Other forms of motor sports will also be looked at briefly to highlight variations in safety regulations due to adverse racing conditions.
Vehicle and Driver Safety Features.
In F1, there is a huge set of regulations relating to vehicle design. While aerodynamics are virtually free, the dimensions and strength of the cars is strictly enforced. The drivers must be contained within a 'safety cell' in the car. This safety cell must allow the drivers to exit the vehicle and replace the steering wheel within 10 seconds, from a fully seated and strapped in position. The cross sections of all openings are controlled, as are minimum widths of the materials permitted. The safety cells must undergo extensive load testing which is described in detail in appendix 3, FIA technical regulations. All safety cells produced must be tested, one of each new design to destruction. A substantial amount of padding is required around the driver, especially around the head region, to protect the driver as their head is thrown around, similar to the Indy car on the right.
In front of the safety cell, but firmly attached, there must be an energy absorbing structure that must also pass various tests. Likewise, on the sides of the safety cell, there must also be energy absorbing structures. In F1, these house the water and oil radiators. The drivers feet must not sit forward of the centreline of the front wheels. Roll over structures must be in place both behind the driver and in front of the driver, with a line drawn from the top of each clearing the drivers helmet by at least 50mm. These rollover structures are also subjected to strict testing as described in Appendix 3. The figure on the right of Michael Schumacher shows the clearance to the driver's head.
An automatic fire extinguishing system must be fitted and able to be manually triggered by the driver, or emergency personnel from outside the vehicle. Data recorders, the fire extinguishing system and the fuel cells must also be contained within the driver's safety cell. The driver must also be able to isolate the vehicles electrical system from the normal seating position. The wheels and tyres of all Formula one cars must have safety hubs fitted to retain the wheel in the event of it coming loose. Brakes must be of standard type and material. The fuel used must be identical for all cars and must burn with a visible flame. Fuel filling procedures must ensure maximum safety and minimum risk to all people in the pit area. All the pit crew are protected by fire resistant clothing similar to the drivers in the event of a refueling fire.
Australian touring cars also have automatic fire extinguishing systems, but the biggest difference to Open Wheel vehicles is that they are based on production cars and are not purpose built, see Holden and Ford cars on right. The strength of a touring car is developed by an extensive array of bars, placed for driver protection, emergency access and vehicle strength and rigidity. The biggest advantage the cars have over Formula one from a safety perspective, is the extra space around the drivers for energy absorption during an impact. They are also able to bump and scrape against each other with minimal damage. If an open wheel car rubs another, the cars can flip into the air, see Jeff Krosnoff case study.
Rally cars are in a totally different class of motor sport. Rally cars are designed to withstand heavy bumps, jumps and knocks, see Subaru on right. The suspension and running gear of rally cars is exceptionally strong, which allows many cars to continue racing after a major accident or roll over. Instead of maintaining traction wherever possible, rally cars slide around almost every corner placing great strain on the vehicles. As well as the roll cage, which also strengthens the vehicles like the touring cars, rally cars also have the on board fire extinguishers. One of the biggest differences with rally style racing is the addition of a co-driver. In rallying, there is not a short track to drive around, each lap like the last. The tracks raced on are closed public roads and are almost never raced on again until the next year. The drivers cannot get into a steady rhythm while driving and must rely on their co-driver to tell them what is coming up next, thus avoiding unexpected obstacles. Rallying is run against the clock only, due to the nature of its courses, thus removing the added hazard of other vehicles whilst racing. Rallying is the only motor sport in the world which races on tarmac, gravel, dirt, snow and ice. Regardless of the conditions, the races are run. Even in very poor visibility, the drivers drive to the limit, trusting the information being passed to them. The drivers and co-drivers in international class rally cars also must wear kidney belts whilst driving to avoid damage to internal organs from the constant pounding they endure on rough roads with very hard suspension.
Drivers in all forms of motor sport wear protective clothing. The standard overalls are made from NOMEX for fire protection. Helmets are compulsory in all forms of motor sport almost wherever racing is found. Gloves and boots are also fire resistant to ensure all over protection. In Formula One, new straps have been introduced which attach the helmet to the overalls at the back of the drivers head. These straps prevent the neck being extended during a forward impact. They were a reaction to the Mika Hakkinen accident in Adelaide in 1995 where Hakkinen's neck extended by 120mm upon impact. There are straps on the shoulders of racing overalls that are used as handles for driver extraction from damaged vehicles
Motorcycle racers have even more personal protection due to them not having the protection of a car around them. Motorcycle gloves for racing are highly reinforced with carbon fibre and Kevlar to prevent fingers snapping and/or being ground off while sliding along the track. Motorcycle racing suits are leather, often kangaroo hide, with carbon fibre inserts in the forearms and shoulders to protect the rider. The legs are also protected with carbon fibre and have large pads on the knees which scrape against the track. Inside the leathers, along the riders back, is a back protector. It is a large Kevlar insert, that looks like a cockroach, which can bend one way, with the riders back, yet is very rigid the other way, protecting the rider from a back injury. It also protects the spine if the rider lands on their back, or slides along on their back. The developments in protection for the riders in motorcycle racing have been as a result of the huge number of serious injuries in the past. These include 500cc world champion Wayne Rainey breaking his back and being confined to a wheel chair.