Subaru's
Petter Solberg and
BP Ford Abu Dhabi's
Mikko Hirvonen have both welcomed the safety upgrades brought in for the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship, which kicked off last weekend with the Rallye Monte Carlo.
All the teams in the WRC have incorporated the FIA Institute's new side impact safety system, which was developed in partnership with the Subaru and Peugeot teams and begun back in March 2005.
The Advanced Side Impact System, developed by the FIA Institute's Closed Car Research Group, is designed to help save rally drivers and co-drivers from serious injury in the event of a high speed side-on crash with a solid object.
The teams have been busy over the winter incorporating the crucial components of the system, which include more survival space and side impact energy absorbers.
"The creation of a 200mm space between the door and the seat provides the critical survival space that will be used to help minimise the energy and forces on the body of the occupant in the event of a collision," explained a statement from the
FIA. "The 200mm space will be filled with high efficiency energy absorbing material, to enable the crash forces to be attenuated."
Further side impact measures, including a stronger supporting seat, stronger seat rails, safety nets and optimised belt anchorage positions are due to be phased in during the summer break, while in '09, it is planned to introduce a new load spreading door cage system.
"The FIA Institute is taking steps forward all the time with developments like the side impact protection system and safety in motorsport in general," said Solberg. "I am pleased that the Subaru World Rally Team has been a major supporter in developing the system with the FIA.
"I think that the FIA has a lot of good ideas for the future and I hope we all see the sport get even safer."
"Crew safety is the top priority for everyone in rallying," Mikko continued. "As a driver I obviously appreciate the need to focus on safety, and it is hugely encouraging to see how closely the teams have been working with the FIA Institute and the importance that has been placed on making rally cars as strong as possible.
"I'm also pleased to see that research will continue in the future with a view to taking improved safety even further."
FIA president
Max Mosley meanwhile was quick to commend all of those involved in developing the new side impact safety system.
