The FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety is leading research into the protection of kart drivers during frontal impacts.
One of the key dangers during a karting accident is thoracic injury linked to impact of the driver on the exposed steering column. The FIA Institute has identified two ways to lessen the dangers during such impacts. Firstly, through improved body protection devices, and secondly, through the introduction of a collapsible steering column.
Steering column testing is underway using a range of dummy sizes to account for weight differences. A total of 15 current and prototype body protectors were tested alongside new equipment to evaluate energy absorption, load spreading and penetration resistance.
The second area of research has focused on the steering column itself. the column must be rigid enough to ful il its role in the general functioning of the kart, whilst at the same time be able to collapse during an impact to avoid injury to the driver. The FIA Institute, alongside the German ASN, the DMsB, has been conducting a number of crash tests into permutations of steering column that react correctly during an impact.
The results have been very positive, and are helping bring to the market new, cheaper and more effective products. FIA Institute’s head of Research Hubert Gramling said: “We’re aiming to hugely improve safety at 20 % of the cost and therefore make our safer systems available to as many young athletes as possible.”
After initially using a €250 multiple-piece devise, the Institute has developed an equally effective single piece devise costing just €80. the tests have been conducted with junior karters in mind and the new system is currently under evaluation by the CIK-FIA, karting’s governing body.
Info FIA Institute