Evolution of technical regulations and drivers’ safety in top class motor sports.

Abstract

Motor racing is a dangerous sport and it is an inherently risky activity. The organizers of top class motor sports championships, Formula One and MotoGP, have agreed upon a set of regulations to reduce speed and ensure safety over the last decade. These changes include limitations in weight, fuel and engine capacity. Nevertheless, there is evidence that most of the restrictions which have been introduced over the past ten years were actually unproductive to slow down the vehicles, since the lap times have improved almost linearly from 1995 to 2006 and drivers continue to die or having serious injuries that also keep them away from competition. Therefore, new and efficient countermeasures should be adopted, such as lowering the cornering speed, heavier and safer vehicles, barriers surrounding the track that would better protect both spectators and competitors and innovative cloths and protective devices that defend key anatomical structures while minimizing the hindrance to the rider.