Secure in the knowledge

When the FIA made a PRI Show presentation to explain its safety strategy, and the developments it’s made to make motorsport less dangerous now and in the future, Racecar grabbed a front row seat

- ANDREW COTTON

Making racing safer is a fundamental goal for all motor racing governing bodies, but none have quite the global reach of the FIA. The world governing body has constantly striven to deliver the latest technology and equipment to drivers and team members and at the PRI show mid-December its head of Competitor Safety, Nuno Costa, presented the latest thinking and timelines for introducing safety upgrades.

Safety in numbers

The safety team comprises four separate departments; Competitor Safety, Circuit and Rally Safety, Medical Rescue, and Research. Competitor Safety primarily focusses on safety within the cockpit across the range of motor racing activities, and the homologation and regulation of competitor safety equipment. Everything from helmets, head restraining systems, clothing, and biometric devices fall into the remit of this department and the FIA is looking to upgrade the equipment it’s responsible for over the next five years.

Also within its remit is the safety devices inside the cockpit survival cell, including seats, harnesses, fire extinguishers, roll cage padding, fuel cells, Halo and wheel tethers. Each of these areas is under constant review with a view to making the racing driver safer in competition.

The Circuit and Rally Safety department has the job of ensuring safe competition for all competitors, officials, and spectators across all disciplines. Circuit regulation and homologation, safety equipment and licensing all fall into this area, along with circuit inspection and operational rally safety.