Safety car

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The safety car in action at the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix

The Safety Car (German: Safety car ), in the USA pace car is in car racing used in dangerous situations, for example after an accident to neutralize or at extremely adverse weather conditions, the race and so to ensure the safety of the participants. The race director decides on the use and duration of the safety car.

General

Pacecar at the Long Beach Champ Car Grand Prix , 2005

The safety car sits in front of the leading vehicle and drives at a safe pace in front of the field of participants. If he does not get into line in front of the leader, the driver of the safety car first activates the green light and signals that the racing cars should overtake him. As soon as the safety car is in front of the leader, its orange indicators signal that overtaking is prohibited.

Signaling of a safety car phase by sports attendant
Signaling of the safety car phase by electronic flag (e.g. in Formula 1)

The safety car phase is signaled to the pilots by the marshals with the yellow flag (no overtaking is allowed) and, depending on the racing series , also with a sign with the inscription "SC". As long as the safety car is on the track, the race is neutralized, which means that overtaking maneuvers are prohibited. These neutralized laps are also regularly counted, so a race can also be ended “under yellow” if the number of laps or a specified maximum race duration is reached.

A safety car phase can have a decisive effect on the race, as it brings the field together again and thus destroys the gaps between the leaders. The drivers also like to use a safety car phase for a pit stop , as the time lost in this case is significantly less than when the field is traveling at racing speed.

The safety car phase is ended with a restart , when the safety car turns into the pit lane and thus releases the speed again; this is signaled to the drivers by the fact that the warning lights on the safety car are switched off during the lap beforehand. In addition, corresponding messages are sent to the teams, which can then inform their drivers by radio. From this point on, the field is again responsible for the speed driven; however, overtaking maneuvers are only permitted after crossing the safety car line (partly before the start / finish line, partly identical to it).

In oval races , the safety car has a direct influence on the racing strategy, as it is used very often due to the high speeds and short lap times. Even in the event of minor incidents, the race must be neutralized immediately.

Safety cars are equipped with yellow or red rotating beacons. In addition, xenon flashers are often installed in the main headlights and auxiliary lights to ensure an additional warning effect in the direction of travel. The current Formula 1 safety car has LED front flashers.

Neutralization without a safety car

Light signal with the note "Virtual Safety Car".

In order to slow down the field of participants in a dangerous situation, the "Virtual Safety Car" is available for the race management in more and more racing series as a further possibility of neutralization. This method does not provide a vehicle that brakes the field, but each participant is required to reduce the speed to a defined value. There are different implementations of how this neutralization of the field of participants is determined in the racing series. Basically every vehicle is prescribed a certain speed in the danger area. This can be a minimum sector driving time prescribed by the race management or a maximum speed set for this sector (usually 60 km / h or 80 km / h). There is also the option of calling out neutralization only for certain track areas or for the entire race track. The advantage of the system is that the distance between the participants on the racetrack remains almost the same and is therefore viewed as more sporty. The disadvantage for the sports attendant ("marshals") is that individual vehicles constantly pass the danger zone. This is not the case with the use of the safety car, as all vehicles pass the danger zone one behind the other and then a long period of time passes during which no passing vehicle endangers the stewardship.

The neutralization is designated and implemented in the racing series as follows:

  • Formula 1 : Virtual Safety Car (VSC) - race management defines minimum sector driving times, neutralization over the entire race track
  • WEC : Full Course Yellow (FCY) - fixed maximum speed of 80 km / h, neutralization over the entire race track
  • Formula E : Full Course Yellow (FCY) - fixed maximum speed of 50 km / h, neutralization over the entire race track.
  • DTM : Slow Zone (SZ) - fixed maximum speed of 80 km / h, neutralization in track areas specially marked with yellow lines (slow zones) or over the entire race track
  • 24-hour race on the Nürburgring / VLN : Double Yellow / Code 60 - Fixed maximum speed of 120 km / h (double yellow flag) or 60 km / h (Code 60), neutralization in track areas individually marked by the marshals with warning signs

Calling out and releasing the neutralization is a dangerous moment of this method. Depending on where a vehicle is on the racetrack at this point in time, it has to decelerate or accelerate considerably. In connection with other participants who have a less powerful vehicle, dangerous situations can arise here. In addition, the participant can get a time advantage or disadvantage compared to his competitor. In the DTM, this is prevented by the neutralized area of ​​the track starting in a slow corner that would have had to be braked for anyway. There is no delay in the middle of a straight line. Dangerous situations can arise on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife when a neutralized section of the route is released again: Here it happens that a vehicle still receives the signal for neutralization, while a vehicle that follows shortly thereafter no longer receives it. This can lead to large differences in speed between the vehicles, which the driver misjudges.

formula 1

The safety car was used for the first time at the 1973 Canadian GP , the driver was the local Eppie Wietzes .

The Safety Car was officially introduced from the 1993 season. The models used were:

The Formula 1 safety car , like the medical car , has been provided by Mercedes-Benz since 1996 . This is usually the latest model of the factory tuner Mercedes-AMG , which, however, has been specially modified.

Among other things, the following was changed:

  • larger braking system ,
  • specially tuned chassis ,
  • Engine tuning ,
  • Interior: sports seats front and rear currently no seats,
  • Signal light system on the roof as well as flashing lights in the headlights and tail lights,
  • two independent radio systems / digital and analog.

Formula 1 safety cars from AMG:

The regular Formula 1 driver Bernd Mayländer at the 2010 Malaysian Grand Prix in a Mercedes SLS AMG .

The safety car for the 2006 season, however, was a special development from which the series model Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black-Series later emerged.

Bernd Mayländer has been the regular driver of the Safety Car since 2000 .

Between 2004 and the beginning of the 2007 season, the rules for the safety car phases were changed several times. After being signaled by the safety car, lapped drivers are allowed to lap back again by overtaking the leading vehicles and the safety car and catching up to the end of the column of vehicles behind the safety car. During this time, the pit lane is open for each driver individually after a time calculated for him. The delayed opening of the pit lane should not only make it possible to establish this sequence as quickly as possible, but should also create an incentive for all drivers to drive as slowly and fuel-efficiently as possible in the interests of safety: According to the old rule, it could be far behind the It would be an advantage for drivers driving a Safety Car to drive to the (possibly early) pit stop at racing speed in order to carry out the pit stop with the least possible loss of position.

The following Formula 1 races were finished behind the safety car:

Virtual Safety Car

The Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was tested in the respective free practice sessions over the last three race weekends. The system was further developed taking into account the feedback from the drivers and, after ratification by the World Motorsport Council (WMSC), was officially introduced for the 2015 season. It was used for the first time at the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix .

During the VSC phase, overtaking is prohibited on the entire route, as well as a speed reduction of 35% on the entire route, the specified maximum speed must not be exceeded.

Safety car in rallying (S-car)

Rally safety car
Equipment of a rally safety car

Unlike on a circuit race track, a rally is driven from A to B (special stages). The participants are usually started every minute. Therefore, if there is an irregularity on the track, where there are injuries or the track is blocked, no further rally vehicle will be started. On the instructions of the head of the special stage, the safety car (called “S-car” in rally motorsport) will be sent onto the now free track.

The goals are to get to the scene as quickly as possible, extinguish fires, rescue the injured, remove participant vehicles from the route and drive back to the start (never against the direction of travel). Only then can you start again.

The S-wagons are equipped for all eventualities, from fire extinguishers and rescue equipment to recovery and towing material such as B. hydraulic rescue shears everything is available.

The crew of an S-car are trained persons from the rescue service and the fire brigade. Depending on the organization, a racing doctor drives directly with or in an ambulance in the event of an operation. The spectrum of tasks ranges from medical help and fire fighting to rescue measures.

The Rally Safety Car (S-Wagen) is an "intervention car" that is not intended to be a substitute for ambulances and fire services, but rather a useful addition to the rescue chain. In the event of major events on the rally route, the ambulance or the fire brigade, who are also at the start of a special stage, will be asked to do so.

The S-car is also used in mountain racing. Here it has similar tasks to rally events. An additional task is to return the vehicles on the route downhill after a break in running. This keeps the interruptions relatively short.

See also: S-car of the DMSB for circular routes

24-hour race on the Nürburgring

A system similar to that used in rallying is also used in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring . Due to the extraordinary length of the lap and the large number of participants, so-called intervention cars were used there. However, a so-called "Code 60" regulation has existed there since January 2016. A purple flag or a corresponding reflective purple sign with a white 60 in a white circle is kept still in the area of ​​the accident site. Similar to the double waved yellow flag ("maximum speed 120 km / h"), Code 60 imposes a speed limit of 60 km / h on drivers, which, due to the extremely low speeds, means that intervention cars are no longer in use makes a classic shape necessary. Nevertheless, they are still used in addition to the DMSB relay, in particular to guide traffic around an accident site at night and to have the necessary rescue equipment at the accident site.

Special events from other racing series

In the race at the Lausitzring on May 20, 2007, the third round of the DTM , the safety car missed the lead car and led the field of participants around the course for several laps in a "wrong" order. The field was so mixed up by pit stops that after the restart the safety car had to go out again to restore the correct order - ultimately unsuccessful.

At the second round of the 2009 World Touring Car Championship in Pau , the safety car caused an accident with the leader Franz Engstler , which threw him out of the race. Immediately before Engstler passed the pit exit, the safety car driven by Philippe Cholet and Jean-Pierre Colas unexpectedly left the pit lane without any instructions. In addition, it disregarded the pit exit line, which for safety reasons must not be crossed, and pulled straight onto the ideal line . Engstler had no way of preventing the accident, as the pit exit is behind an unclear full-throttle curve and collided with the safety car.

Web links

Commons : Safety cars  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Safety-Car  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Virtual Safety Car: How it works in 2015. Accessed December 11, 2015 .
  2. ↑ Code80 zones soon also in the WEC races? Retrieved December 11, 2015 .
  3. ↑ Timo Pape: General information on Formula E. Accessed on July 10, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Zandvoort: Slow Zones in action for the first time. Retrieved December 11, 2015 .
  5. ↑ VLN: New double yellow regulation - 120 instead of 60 km / h. Retrieved July 10, 2019 .
  6. ↑ Mercedes unveils new 2015 safety and medical cars . FIA. February 6, 2015. Accessed February 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Alonso: Still work to be done on VSC . PlanetF1.com. October 31, 2014. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved on November 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ Virtual safety car gets the go-ahead . Planet F1. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on December 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ ADAC Zurich 24h-Rennen / Announcement 2013. (PDF; 1.9 MB) (No longer available online.) ADAC Nordrhein eV, archived from the original on December 24, 2012 ; Retrieved July 20, 2013 .
  10. ↑ Nürburgringtreff: Community adopts Code 60 regulation , at motorsport-total.com, accessed on May 15, 2019
  11. ↑ Safety car throws Engstler out of the race! , at motorsport-total.com, accessed on May 15, 2019
  12. ↑ Pau: Safety-Car acted unauthorized , on motorsport-total.com, accessed on May 15, 2019