Safety Car

The Safety Car ( German: backup vehicle), the United States also pace car is used in car racing to in case of danger situations, for example after an accident or in extremely adverse weather conditions, to neutralize the race and so to ensure the safety of the participants. About the use of the safety car the race director decides.

General

The safety car sits in front of the leading vehicle and drive at a safe speed before the participants here. Failing that queuing is not ahead of the leader, the driver of the Safety Car first activated the green light, signaling that it should overtake the race cars. As soon as the safety car is ahead of the leader, signal its orange flashing lights absolutely no overtaking.

The safety car phase is the pilot of the marshals by the yellow flag ( overtaking ) and depending on the racing series, where appropriate, also indicated in conjunction with a sign reading "SC". As long as the safety car is on the track, the race is neutralized, ie overtaking is prohibited. These neutralized rounds are counted regularly, according to a race that is also " yellow" are terminated when the rotary race number or a predetermined maximum duration of the race is reached.

A safety car phase can affect racing crucial, as it nullifies together leads the field again, and so pulled-out distances of the leaders. The drivers also make use of a Safety Car period like for a pit stop, since the time losses are much lower in this case than if the field in the race pace is on the way.

The safety car phase is ended, that the safety car turns into the pit lane and as the pace again releases; This is the drivers signaled by the fact that in the previous round, the warning lights on the Safety Car will be turned off. In addition, appropriate messages are printed to the teams that can then inform their drivers via radio. The field is again responsible from that point for the speed being driven themselves, overtaking is only possible from the driving over the safety car line ( part before the Start-/Ziellinie, partly identical with it ) allowed.

In oval racing, the safety car direct impact on the race strategy, as it very often is used by the high speeds and short lap times. Here the race must be immediately neutralized with smaller incidents.

Safety Cars are equipped with yellow or red warning beacons. In addition, often xenon strobes are installed in the headlights and auxiliary lights to provide additional warning effect in the direction of travel. The current Safety Car of Formula 1 has front flashing lights in LED technology.

Formula 1

The Safety Car was first used in the Canadian Grand Prix in 1973, was the native driver Eppie Wietzes. Since then, five race behind the safety car were completed: The Grand Prix of Canada in 1999, the Australian Grand Prix 2009, the Grand Prix of Italy in 2009, the Monaco Grand Prix in 2010 and the Grand Prix of Brazil in 2012.

The safety car of the Formula 1 is made since 1996, as well as the Medical Car, Mercedes -Benz. It usually is the newest model of the factory tuner Mercedes -AMG, which it has been specifically modified.

Among other things:

• Larger brake system
• Specially tuned suspension
• Engine tuning
• Interior: Sports seats, front and rear currently no seats
• Signal lights on the roof and flashing lights in the headlamps and tail lights
• Two independent radio systems / Digital and Analog

Here is a list of all Formula 1 Safety Car from AMG:

• C 36 AMG (1996/ 97)
• CLK 55 AMG (1997/ 98)
• CL 55 AMG (1999 /2000)
• SL 55 AMG (2001/ 02)
• CLK 55 AMG (2003)
• SLK 55 AMG (2004/ 05)
• CLK 63 AMG (2006/ 07)
• SL 63 AMG (2008/ 09)
• SLS AMG (since 2010)

When the Safety Car for the 2006 season it was, however, a special development, which later became the production model Mercedes -Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series emerged.

Since 2000 the regular driver of the Safety Car Bernd Mayländer.

Between 2004 and the start of the 2007 season, the rules for the safety car phases were changed several times. So lapped rider may, at signaling by the safety car, back round by overtake the leading vehicle and the safety car and catch up to the end of driving behind the safety car motorcade. During this time the pit lane for each driver is individually opened after a calculated time for him. The delayed opening of the pits should not only allow, as soon as possible to make this order, but seeks to encourage the interest of safety for all drivers, so slow and fuel-efficient as possible to drive: Under the old rule, it was for far behind the be safety car motorist advantageous to drive in the race for speed (possibly early ) pit stop to perform it with the least possible loss of position.

Safety Car in rallying ( S series )

Unlike on a circular race track is moved during a rally from A to B ( stages ). Participants are usually started by the minute. Therefore, not another rally car is started at an irregularity on the track, when people are injured or the route is blocked. At the direction of the special stage manager is on site, the safety car (called Rally Motorsport "S -Wagen" ) sent to the now free range.

Goals are to reach the scene as quickly as possible to put out fires, rescue the injured, to remove participants' cars off the track and again drive to start ( never rear facing). Only can be started again.

The S models are equipped for all eventualities, so everything is of fire extinguishers on rescue equipment to rescue and towing material such as hydraulic rescue cutter available.

The crew of an S- car are trained individuals in the field of rescue workers and fire fighters. Depending on the organization runs a race doctor in case of an insert afterwards directly or in an ambulance. The tasks range from medical assistance on fire fighting to salvage operations.

The Rally Safety Car ( S series ) is an " intervention Car", which is not intended to substitute for ambulances and fire brigade, but rather a useful addition to the chain of survival. For larger events on the rally route the ambulance or the fire department, which is also available at the start of a special stage will be demanded.

The S series is also used in mountain racing. It has similar functions as in rally events. As an additional task is added, after a run interruption by the vehicles on the track due downhill. Thus, the interruptions can be kept relatively short.

See also: S- car DMSB at the racetrack

24 -hour race at the Nürburgring

A similar system as in rallying is also the 24 -hour race at the Nürburgring used. Due to the extraordinary length of tour and the large number of participants called intervention Cars there are employed.

Special events from other racing series

In the race at the Lausitzring on 20 May 2007, being the third round of the DTM, the safety car missed the lead car and led several laps the field of participants in a "wrong" order around the course. The field was so jumbled that the safety car once again had to restart on the route to the correct order through pit stops - restore - ultimately unsuccessful.

In the second round of the World Touring Car Championship 2009 in Pau, the safety car caused a collision with the leader Franz Engstler, which it has been thrown out of the race. Immediately before Engstler came past the pit exit, leaving the network controlled by Philippe Cholet and Jean -Pierre Colas Safety Car unexpectedly and without statement, the pit lane. It also disregarded the pit exit line which must not be crossed to safety, and moved directly to the ideal line. Engstler had no chance to avoid the accident, as the pit exit is behind a cluttered full throttle curve and collided with the safety car.