Drivers Brace Themselves In Safety Push.

The FIA is ready to introduce neck braces as a means of preventing or restricting head injuries in grand prix racing.


The Head and Neck Support (HANS) brace has been developed as an off-shoot of research into airbag technology, and had proved to be better than an airbag in almost every test. Shaped like a horseshoe, the brace is designed to fit between the driver's helmet and his shoulders and, tethered to the helmet by a carbon-fibre support, has proved to reduce the amount of injuries by almost 70 per cent. It works by limiting the amount of head movement in relation to the driver's body.


The use of the brace will not be made compulsory, however, after David Coulthard complained that it restricted his driving style. The McLaren driver tested the device on behalf of the GPDA, and said that, in its current form, it was also uncomfortable to wear.