It is often said that the glorious racing of
yesteryear was tainted by the accompanying bloodshed. Whilst
diehard fans may claim that the sport has lost a part of it's soul
in the process of modernisation, it is clear that the pursuit of
victory has never been safer. This drastic improvement can be
attributed to better designed circuits, stronger cars and
protective apparel. However, we know that one area remains
frighteningly exposed: the driver's head.
Every part of the driver's body is encased inside a
near-indestructible survival cell apart from the head. Over the
decades, driver headwear has made immeasurable advances - each
helmet is extensively tested by the governing body and adequately
protects the wearer from most of the risks you would associate with
going wheel-to-wheel at two hundred miles per hour. It would take a
freak accident to penetrate this most important layer of
protection.
But we know all to well that freak accidents do happen - and
invariably, the serious ones concern the driver's head. Three years
ago, Formula Two driver Henry Surtees was killed at Brands Hatch
when he was struck on the head by a detached wheel. Six days later,
Felipe Massa suffered life-threatening injuries when a rogue spring
pierced his visor at the Hungaroring. In the space of less than a
week the paddock was rudely re-awakened to the peril at the heart
of this intrinsically dangerous sport.
Since then, we've received more reminders. Last October,
reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon die of blunt force
trauma to the head after becoming airborne in a multiple car
pile-up in Las Vegas. Then, just weeks ago, Marussia test driver
Maria de Villota lost an eye when her helmet came into contact with
the loading bay of a support truck. As unbelievably
misfortunate as the latter's accident was, it once told us what we
alread knew - the head (and in particular the eyes and frontal
lobe) sit behind nothing more substantial than a flimsy layer of
plastic.
That may soon change. Charlie Whiting commissioned a full
report into Wheldon's death, and is intent to applying the lessons
learned to Formula One. He revealed that the FIA have tested
various methods of truly protecting the head - they include "jet
fighter canopies" and "a roll structure". He claims the both work,
but that the governing body continues to grapple with the visionary
and aesthetic problems presented by such a solution. Whatever the
issues, it appears that the basic concept is sound.
For now, it remains frankly absurd that the most integral
part of the body receives the flimsiest protection of all. Since
the death of Ayrton Senna, we have realised that the head remains a
magnet for injuries - and the past few years have confirmed the
desperate need for something to be done. Accidents and debris are
an inescapable part of wheel-to-wheel racing: with the appropriate
protection, the resulting injuries and heartache don't have to
be.