The FIA Institute’s Annual General Meeting on 22 October in Paris featured a number of presentations on progress of its projects over the last 12 months.
Andy Mellor, FIA Institute Head of Technical Affairs, reported that a study into Filipe Massa’s high profile accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix concluded the FIA 8860 helmet made a significant contribution to saving his life. At the request of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, a new study on visors has commenced.
A test configuration was developed for Formula One to cope with a ban on re-fueling starting in the 2010 season. As well, a new high frequency quartz load platform was developed for frontal, side and rear impact testing, which has been used to validate the performance of nosecones at oblique impact angles.
Work has continued to develop FIA specifications for new Frontal Head Restraint systems and concluded that sliding tethers raised no safety concerns. High-speed barrier testing has continued to evaluate nose height and penetration resistance, and work on a low cost safety package for single-seater space frame chassis cars is nearing completion.
A report from the Australian Institute for Motor Sport Safety showed the incidence of motor sport fatal injuries worldwide was reducing for circuit racing, but increasing for rally side impacts. The new FIA 8862 seat and side impact system were delivered to the World Rally Championship during 2008 and were further enhanced in 2009 to allow 60 liters of energy-absorbing foam to be fitted in the door cavity.
Advanced Racing Nets are being developed to improve protection during side and angled side impacts, and the FIA 8860 helmet, originally designed for Formula One, will be delivered for the 2010 World Rally Championship. The project to determine best practice for roll-cage design is underway and the FIA Institute Accident Data Recorder programme has been implemented in the FIA World Touring Car Championship and Australian V8 SuperCars.
For karting, new test methods for body protection have been drafted, and the kart safety steering system has been fully evaluated through sled and track testing. The Snell-FIA CM2007 youth helmet is now available from Bell, B2 and Arai, and will be mandated by the Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK-FIA) for 2010. As well, the kart high seat specification has been published by CIK.
Quentin Crombie, FIA Institute Head of Educational and Excellence Programmes, gave a presentation on the FIA Institute’s Education and Medical Programmes. The Education Programme is made up of the Officials Safety Training Programme, the Young Driver Safety Programme and the Facility Improvement Programme, all of which form the Motor Sport Safety Development Fund. The Medical Programme includes initiatives on training, participation and research.
Peter Wright gave a presentation on environmentally sustainable motor sport, examining FIA policy development and explaining how the FIA Institute will now be involved in implementing these policies through its research.