I can see F1 style honeycomb impact protection

[ebxr8240]

After the accident on Friday I can see carbon fibre F1 style cell around driver.. Especially on right hand side...This stuff is energy absorbing.....

[Aeron]

I think it needs to be looked into. Side impact is the most dangerous, especially when 2 drivers sides collide, there isn't much of a "crumple zone" like a front or rear impact.

[MRJUCY]

Lowndes mentioned he'd like to see a driver safety cell as used in DTM etc where the whole cell can be removed with the driver in it which would make the cars safer & make it quicker & easier to remove drivers in big accidents like Friday's or the Rat's big one on Sunday.

[Rev28K]

Either shift the driver closer to the centreline or increase the width of the car (doors) and maybe some sort of side airbags as well.

[05MkIIFutura]

Originally Posted by Rev28K

Either shift the driver closer to the centreline

They are already as close to the middle as is possible

Originally Posted by Rev28K

and maybe some sort of side airbags as well.

Airbags would make no difference. These boys are well and truly strapped in, you will find most damage is done to the body by the exreme g-forces drivers would suffer against the seat and belts etc and having someones rear-quarter punch a whole in your door (BUT the damage is far less than what would be caused without belts!!)

[MRJUCY]

Originally Posted by 05MkIIFutura

They are already as close to the middle as is possible

They could still go in further the rules currently wont let them tho.

[wulos]

There's quite a few ideas that could be implemented in an attempt to reduce the likelyhood of a repeat of this tragic accident.
Hopefully the V8Supercar series takes note of this accident (yes I DO realise that it was in the feeder series - but could just of easily involved one of their higher profile drivers)
The honeycomb side impact protection would almost certainly involve a reshape of the cars as seen racing nowadays. With the 'flares' see on the new VE model, it would be possible to insert a bumper structure onto the doors that protrudes out level with the arches (ala DTM series) and allow teams to use this area to duct the exhaust outwards aft of the B Pillar area. For the DTM series they have a "cutline" 275mm above the floorline, above which must maintain OEM panel shaping, including all panel "shutlines"
The DTM series allows for radical aero degigns outside of the 'protected areas', but the current V8 series is already that detatched from road going reality, that changing the body shapes in certain areas wouldn't matter anyway - especially if it's for safety reasons.

[Martyvan]

Dont know if Honeycombe would assist that greatly in a 1300kg car at speed hitting it.......

The idea of a Safety Cage sounds more feasible, whereby if an impact was big enough to damage the cage, the was not going to be driveable anyway. But would having a safety cage affect the ability to quickly change drivers @ endurance events?

I think re-inforcing the structure around the drivers side door would be a good start.... Maybe having breakaway sections (say front.) to absorb more impact, even though in itself would unfeasible because of the cost...

But what about an active safety measure of installing HID lights (YELLOW/RED/GREEN) which warn drivers of safety problems instantly (NASCAR or INDY Style). Even though the time taken to get out of the throttle and onto the brake may not have saved Friday's incident...

[AnthonyQLD]

Originally Posted by Martyvan

But what about an active safety measure of installing HID lights (YELLOW/RED/GREEN) which warn drivers of safety problems instantly (NASCAR or INDY Style). Even though the time taken to get out of the throttle and onto the brake may not have saved Friday's incident...

thats not a bad idea

[Orbit]

I think LED is the term your after.
and yes i think that would atleast be a decent step.

[Aeron]

Originally Posted by Orbit

I think LED is the term your after.
and yes i think that would at least be a decent step.

And I think it would be useless in V8Supercars. And I'll tell you why.

NASCAR and INDY cars race on an oval with 4 or so corners and a lap time of 30 seconds or so. So there is a good chance that when you get the yellow LED come on your dash, you'll be in the effected area in 30secs or less. This will not work on a track like Bathurst (or any other track that they race on) where a race lap takes about 2:10.000 because drivers will ignore the lights because they may not reach the effected area for 2 minutes. Drivers aren't going to potter round Bathurst for 2mins looking for the danger because it may not be anywhere near them. They will stay into it until they see the yellows, then they'll slow down, like they would anyway.
Im sorry but the LED idea wouldn't work in V8Supercars.

[Full Spectrum]

Don't laugh at me but not only do i believe drivers should be repositioned closer to the middle and slightly back to protect the feet, But what about some type of side air bag in side impact crashes. Tested with a sensor that will open the air bag only if the body of the car meets this sensor which would be something like the impact on mark porters car. I know it might sound dum cause they don't do this but why not a softer impact might help the driver more.

[XR8putts]

I like the idea of s slightly buldged out drivers door (and passengers to match) to incorporate the absorbing alluminium or carbon fibre cells. I've seen a few doccumentaries on F1 and the cells (especially in the nose cone) and I'm sold.

I believe a combination of;

* Buldged doors to allow for more absorbing cells
* More members between the A & B pillars
* Moving the driver further towards the center of the car
* LED light warning systems

I believe if the above ideas were implemented, the risk of dying in a Mark Porter style accident would be halved.

[Perana]

For those saying they cant move the seat across anymore... Craig Lowndes has said that the seat can move closer to the middle of the car, it's just the Regulations that don't allow teams to do so.