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Showing category "Technical developments" (Show all posts)

Lessons learned at the Melbourne F1 GP for the 2014 season

Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Monday, March 24, 2014, In : Technical developments 
  

Formula One has made some dramatic changes for the 2014 season, which are all well documented in the motorsport media, with some creating a fair bit of criticism. I thought we'd take a look at some of the elements that have a bearing on the provision of rescue and medical services. These may change during the year and more may come to light. Feel free to add to this post in the comments section below.



First up, the engine isn't an engine anymore. It's a powertrain or power unit. See this Rac...

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Formula 4 comes to Australia in 2014

Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Sunday, January 19, 2014, In : Technical developments 
Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Sunday, December 15, 2013 


Formula 4 has been confirmed as the new stepping stone in progression in open-wheel race car competition in Australia. So here is a summary of the key items of this new formula, with a focus on the elements that impact on medical and rescue provision.

The aim is to keep cost to a minimum, to encourage young talent to progress through the ranks to Formula 3 and on to Formula 1. That doesn't mean it will be particularly c...
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Motor sport crash barriers

Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Sunday, January 19, 2014, In : Technical developments 
Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Thursday, June 6, 2013 
I've previously taken a (non-engineer's) look at run-offs and gravel traps and their role in minimising harm in motor sport crashes (ASMMR Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 4, May 2010). Having watched the Monaco F1 GP at the weekend and in particular the impacts of Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado, I've done a little digging around the type of crash barrier used. The Monaco circuit, which is a street circuit, uses a brand of barrie...
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Simpson Safety Solutions Hybrid Head Restraint system

Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Thursday, January 16, 2014, In : Technical developments 
Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Monday, October 3, 2011

The Simpson Performance Products company, which is based in New Braunfels, Texas, produces a range of race safety equipment, from suits, boots and gloves to helmets and HANS devices, catering for all categories of land based motor sports. It does all its own manufacturing and testing.

In July this year the FIA homologated its latest version of HANS devices, the Simpson/Safety Solutions Hybrid Head Restraint system (FIA 8858-2010 standard...
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Flywheel KERS

Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Thursday, January 16, 2014, In : Technical developments 
Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Friday, August 19, 2011

Racecar Engineering has an interesting article on flywheel KERS. While the article spends most of its time tracking the history of how former Renault F1 engineer, John Hilton, developed his flywheel KERS and started up his Flybrid Systems company with Doug Cross, it does give some insight into how flywheel kinetic energy recovery systems work. As it is written for an engineering magazine, it assumes a level of engineering knowledge.

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New F1 engines

Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Thursday, January 16, 2014, In : Technical developments 
Posted by Matthew Mac Partlin on Wednesday, July 6, 2011

On the 28th of June, the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) voted to make the next generation of F1 engines 1600cc direct injection V6 turbos, with a controlled fuel flow. This will come into effect for the 2014 season. They will be higher revving (increased from 12,000rpm to 15,000rpm), but they will have the same fuel efficiency requirements placed upon them. They will also still incorporate energy recovery systems, such as KERS.
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