The Open Cockpit Research Group supervises all research into safety issues relating to open cockpit racing cars, including all open-wheel cars such as those used in Formula One.

It leads research into all safety issues in this field identified in collaboration with the FIA Safety Commission and the FIA Medical Commission. It also monitors related safety issues reviewed with other motor sport safety researchers and laboratories.

It initiates, monitors and reviews a number of safety programmes, which lead to new standards and new regulations drawn up in collaboration with the appropriate FIA regulatory bodies. The effects of these and other new measures on the safety of race events are continually monitored by the group.

Progress

The Open Cockpit Research Group manages various research projects funded by the FIA Institute.

Debris fence

The objective of this project is to continually improve the safety of debris fencing. These are circuit fences used to prevent the debris from the track from hitting spectators. There are two types of debris fence. Those used at permanent circuits such as Silverstone and those used at temporary circuits such as Melbourne.

So far this project has led to the creation of a computer modeling system which can measure many more circumstances of debris hitting a fence than a practical model. The results of the computer simulation have been compared to a practical test and will be delivered to the FIA shortly.

Ear accelerometers

A project to develop sensors, placed in the drivers ear, which will reveal more information about the forces on the driver’s head during a race. Currently, accident data recorders on the chassis only report what the car is doing rather than what happens to the driver. Ear accelerometers will reveal what the head is doing as well.

This system is currently being tested in both Formula One and the US Indy Racing League. Renault has commenced using the equipment during F1 car testing and reported positive results so far.

Development of the Circuit Safety Analysis System (CSAS)

The CSAS is a computer tool developed from the sensors on the car. It is based on information collected from when cars run off the track and will be used to develop safer run-off areas at circuits.

High speed barriers

Work continues on developing energy dissipating barriers. These types of barriers, such as tyre-walls, are already used in motor racing and the Group is continuing research to improve their efficiency. It is developing barriers which will dissipate more energy in a shorter space. The objective is to create a barrier that will dissipate a 200kph impact in just 10 metres.

Helmets for young drivers

Driver helmets are currently made for adults. The standards used to approve them are tested on adults. This project is seeking to create a helmet standard scientifically developed for youths.

Helmets are being designed for all young racing drivers. In order to do this researchers are examining and measuring the growth rate and development of the human head from age six onwards.

This is an important project as adult helmets tend to be heavy and too big for younger drivers. And just making them smaller does not necessarily do the job.

So far research results have defined two helmet shapes and sizes, for 8- to 11- olds and for 12- to 16-year olds, in the prototype work. It will eventually lead to the creation of a Youth Helmet Standard that will have to be attained by all young driver’s helmets.

Publications

Videos concerning Marshalling and Intervention, and Motor Sport Medical Services been approved for publication.

Future projects include a training video covering all aspects of driver extrication, which will be followed up by another concentrating on extractable seat systems in formula cars.

All training videos will be made available on the FIA Institute website.

Car launching mechanisms ("Flycar")

This project investigates why open-wheel cars, especially those used in Formula One, often fly in the air when they collide.

Researchers built a rolling road on a laboratory test track so they could fire a model car at the stationary car on the rolling road. The results have already revealed the main reasons why cars tend to take off on impact. These include the size of the tyre, the roll of the rim of the tyre, a spring mechanism in the deflated tyre and the height of the nose. This analysis should lead to a number of solutions as research continues.

F1 Wheel tether testing (ageing)

Wheel tethers are used to prevent wheels from flying off the cars but they also have to have enough elasticity to stop the car taking off with the wheel.

Through rig testing, the Group has developed a tethers, approved under the new FIA test specification, which are able to absorb approximately four times the energy of 2004 tether.

IRL Rear Impact Seat

The Group is working with the Indy Racing League and Wayne State University to develop new forms of rear impact protection for the driver. The work is focused on development of the seat itself and how the driver should be sat in the car.

F1 Race control flag system

This project is examining the development of a system which will replace coloured warning flags during races. Instead coloured lights will appear on the roadside and in the driver cockpit show the status of the sector he is coming up to. It is a complicated system involving GPS and radio signals and will require much testing. But it will eventually lead to the implementation of a complete automatic race control marshalling system. Will eventually replace the flags with lights.