Developments in Modern Racecar Driver Crash Protection and Safety-Engineering Beyond Performance

For many years, the evolution of safety improvements in motorsports was the result of a combination of science and perceived safe practices. Most safety developments were not based on rigorous laboratory testing, but rather on intuition and a “let’s try it and see what happens” approach.

During the last few decades, motorsports has benefited from the organized research efforts made possible by academia, manufacturers, and sanctioning bodies, leading to present-day motorsports safety methodologies based on solid data and testing.

This compendium, edited by some of the foremost racing safety experts, comprises selected technical papers that document the development and implementation of key motorsports safety technologies now in use. It is intended to provide racing professionals and enthusiasts with a concise overview of the significant engineering developments in motorsports driver safety that has occurred during the past two decades.