Insights are provided into the engineering challenge involved in providing crash protection to the driver when modifying production cars for racing conditions. Building on knowledge gained from passenger car safety development, the higher performance parameters associated with high speed racing crashes are reviewed and proposals developed to minimise the injury risk to racing car drivers. Structural modifications to improve front, rear and side crash performance are proposed, utilising the opportunity to make modifications not practical in a production vehicle, but which can be implemented in a racing car. The role of the seat and seatbelt system in driver protection is discussed, and the potential for major gains in safety are discussed. (A)
Abstract