FIA to test closed cockpit concepts

Visibility wouldn't be an issue at all in that design, at that angle at racing speeds the water would just run off, especially if they put a hydrophobic coating on the outside, which they obviously would.

 

They already look through a screen that's attached to their helmet.

It may (other than potential fogging issues) make visibility better overall during the wet.

 

I do not know the solution, when – rather than if – one is eventually found. However, I've said before that it is only a matter of time. And with every such incident, that time approaches more quickly.

• Motor racing is dangerous and always will be; but it is right and proper that advances in technology be applied to make it less so.
• All safety solutions are a compromise which weigh pros against cons. This occurred with seat-belts for most road vehicles where the advantages were perceived to outweigh negative elements. Oddly enough, it also happened with enforcing the use of crash helmets on a motorcycle.
• Even if the forthcoming FIA tests find viable concepts, they may not necessarily employ a screen (!!).
• Rain and spray affect visibility only a fraction more for a high-speed car fitted with a screen than they do for a jet-fighter. Sportscars manage perfectly well in poor weather and with a properly treated windscreen*, there is almost no need for wipers – which are fitted as a requirement of the regulations.

- - -o0o- - -​

*For anyone in doubt about the last point: There are plenty of screen treatments on the market for road users which can be applied in minutes. Anyone who thinks stuff like 'Rain-X' is a gimmick should try it – especially those who do high mileage or long distances. Previous non-believers will be stunned at its effectiveness, even at low speed. Just one tip: when it starts raining, try not use the wipers! Using them will mean you need to treat the screen more often.

 

...was that a sales pitch?

 

With an enclosed cockpit it doesn't need to be upside down for the driver to be trapped, it just needs something small and insignificant to be slightly off true for the canopy to jam.
A point people seem to miss when pointing towards jet aircraft and their canopies is that pilots eject when it's clear an unavoidable incident is going to happen, so they do it before the canopy can become damaged, in F1 the incident will happen first.

 

OK then, in F1 when was the last time a crash caused a car to catch fire?

 

I reckon its Berger at Imola in 1989, struggling beyond that.

Less a crash causing a fire, more a fire and a slide, but "Diniz in the oven" back in 1996 is perhaps a contender. Verstappen senior and Heidfield had fires I can recall, there's no doubt some I'm missing.

 

The sport's changed massively since all of them. Heidfeld's was just an exhaust fire made worse by Lotus exiting the exhausts out the front of the sidepod, that would be extinguished in seconds these days. More importantly there was no shunt which could have warped the canopy.

 

Excuse me for mentioning this but it appears there are two threads discussing 'closed cockpits'. Could someone tell me which one to use? Surely having two threads discussing the same thing means comments in one may not be read or taken into account?

Can I suggest that relevant comments from this thread be merged with the other, and that a post be made here in this thread to ask people to use the other ONLY (or vice versa)?

 

Merged.

Completely agree though AG. Without wanting to tempt fate, a crash leading to a fire is pretty unlikely these days. Debris is a much more common threat.

 

I completely forget that I'm a mod sometimes

Not keeping up with my duties!

 

I think the biggest issue with a canopy is going to be the operating of them in a race with regards to heat. WEC and the like don't generally race in the temperature extremes we see in F1, there's going to have to be some serious work put into making the cockpits a safe place in 'normal' conditions.

 

Thanks, DHC. That was quick!

 

WEC races in Bahrain and Texas. I'd guess the Dakar rally gets much hotter than F1 generally is. The top of the canopy could be blacked out to prevent sunlight heating the inside too much, only the front and sides need to be transparent. Cooling vents might be sufficient.

 

I wonder if you could open up a large cooling vent on the underside of the nose, and have the air pass over the driver, then duct it out and join the air intake from the sidepods, aiding with radiator cooling?

 

Don't the WEC cars also have air con? Or is that just the GT classes?

 

According to this:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorsport/le-mans/10135161/Why-Le-Mans-beats-Formula-One.html

The coupes are obliged to have air con if they can't otherwise keep temperatures below set limits.

 

And a cup holder

 

And reclining seats.

 

And booster seats? Most racing driver are rather tiny