Pilots ready for protected cockpits

The dramatic accidents of Frenchman Jules Bianchi and Briton Justin Wilson over the last two years have reminded us that progress in terms of safety in motorsport, and in particular in car with open cockpits, could still be achieved.

According to Alexander Wurz, president of the GPDA, the implementation of new measures aimed at strengthening head protection now has the support of drivers. “The research carried out by FIA experts has enabled to arrive at a clear solution, indicates the Austrian in an interview for the BBC.

Pilots say it's time to include these protections no later than 2017. Of course, structural changes need to be made to the chassis, but with a year to go, I don't see any technical person speaking out against safety improvements, especially given the recent major accidents. involved head injuries. The pilots, and I, hope that this addition will only be a formality. » Among the possibilities in this area, a Mercedes study was made public last year.

Wurz further indicates that the drivers have expressed clear demands regarding tires, validated in an agreement “which remains confidential for the moment” to allow them “to attack and extract the most from these fantastic cars”.