INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOTOR SPORT MEDICINE ISSUE#19, APRIL 2020

IAN DUNBAR FIA's new Rescue Specialist discusses the challenges of trackside rescue P20 CORONAVIRUS How motor sport is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic P26 The WRC driver discusses his recovery from a back injury last year P34

LEADING LIGHTS How high-tech light panels are set to become the first line of safety at all FIA circuits worldwide AUTO+MEDICAL AUTO+MEDICAL

INTRODUCTION/

This edition is overshadowed by the Coronavirus AUTO+ MEDICAL pandemic which has affected us all and, in effect, EDITORIAL BOARD stopped all motor sport around the world. Self- isolation, social distancing and lock downs have had CONTENTS a dramatic effect on life, meaning that motor sport P9 OMP Racing acquires Bell Helmets to create motor sport safety giant takes a back seat for the moment. P9 Former McLaren boss to lead new sport Most of the doctors, paramedics and nurses safety group involved in motor sport are also involved in emergency medicine, including many of the FIA

Medical Commission and the editorial board of Dr Paul Trafford Dr Robert Seal (Chairman) (Medical Director, VIEW FROM THE GROUND/ this publication. They are working on the front line Canadian Motorsports providing emergency care across the world. Response Team) P10 Dr Greg Summerville gives his views from the ground in the United States Inside we hear personal accounts from those GLOBAL NEWS/ involved in Australia, the UK and Canada and how the pandemic is affecting them. P4 FIA Member Clubs support fight against FEATURES/ Coronavirus However, work in motor sport safety and medicine continues apace. Ian Dunbar who has been P5 FIA and FIM to host joint Medical P12 LEADING LIGHTS appointed as the FIA Rescue Specialist after many Commission Meeting in October How a high-tech solution at racetracks is years involved in emergency rescue work with the Dr Matthew Dr Pedro Esteban P5 ICMS focuses on circuit design and driver improving communication between race (Deputy (FIA Medical Delegate, fire service, Holmatro and the British Touring Car Mac Partlin extrication control, marshals and drivers Chief Medical Officer, World Rallycross Championship, is our interview feature which I’m Australian GP & World Championship) P5 Zandvoort builds new medical center Rally Championship) P20 BIG INTERVIEW: IAN DUNBAR sure you will all find interesting. We also explain the P6 Motorsport Australia to name drug and The FIA's new Rescue Specialist talks alcohol offenders latest developments in circuit light panels, which are about the challenges of trackside rescue enhancing communication between race control P6 V8 Supercars champion feared concussion P26 HOW CORONAVIRUS IS AFFECTING MOTOR after 48G crash and competitors. SPORT WORLDWIDE Finally, we want to thank Kelvin Chew from P6 FIA holds weekly video conference for Doctors give their views on how the Singapore, who after two years helping us with motor sport medical community Coronavirus pandemic is affecting motor sport P7 FIA Medical Summit set for Munich AUTO+ Medical is standing down from the Editorial P30 INSIDE THE: WEC SAFETY CAR Dr Jean Duby Dr Pau Mota P7 Motorsport safety pioneer Bill Simpson dies Board but will, of course, still be involved with A look inside the Safety Car used in the (Medical Trainer, (FIA Head of Medical P8 Flörsch wins 'Comeback of the Year' at motor sport. FIA World Cup for and Rescue) World Endruance Championship Cross-Country Rallies) The Laureus Sports Awards This edition had begun being prepared long before P34 THE ROAD BACK: ELFYN EVANS the pandemic; we hope you will understand our P8 Dr Jacques Bouchard steps down The WRC driver talks about his recovery reason to go ahead and provide some normality and P8 Motorsport Australia tightens Frontal Head from a back injury he sustained during last distraction form the events around us. Our thoughts Restraint Rules years Rally are with you all; please be careful and take care, whatever you are doing.

Editor: Marc Cutler Deputy Editor: Rory Mitchell The Editorial Board Dr Dino Altmann Designer: Cara Mills (Deputy President, FIA Medical Commission) We welcome your feedback: [email protected]

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ICMS FOCUSES ON CIRCUIT DESIGN AND FIA AND FIM TO HOST JOINT DRIVER EXTRICATION

GLOBAL MEDICAL COMMISSION The 31st International Council of MEETING IN OCTOBER Motorsport Sciences’ Annual Congress took place at Indianapolis on 10th – 13th December, where a range of topics concerning medical and motor sport The FIA and the Federation FIM, with the aim to work safety were discussed. NEWS Internationale de Motocyclisme together on a range of research IndyCar doctor Dr Steve Olvey was (FIM) plan to hold a joint projects related to circuits and the moderator for the first panel, which medical commission meeting on competitor safety devices. featured a presentation by the FIA's FIA AND MEMBER CLUBS SUPPORT FIGHT AGAINST CORONAVIRUS 3rd October in Geneva. Watkins Award winner Dr Naomi The joint meeting is part Deakin that focused on the first year of of the ongoing collaboration the RESCUE-RACER concussion between the two governing programme. ventilators. Masks made in the bodies in motor sport, after Dr Dino Altmann followed with a talk factory were initially sent to Italy, recently teaming up to develop on the usage of frontal cameras in the Spain and the US, with 200,000 made a new paint standard for use Porsche GT3 Series, with Dr Preston in the initial days of the project on circuits. Calvert rounding off the mid-morning getting underway. A number of other session with a presentation on The Automobile Association collaboration projects are designing and implementing screening Philippines (AAP) is contributing planned between the FIA and protocol for mTBI in racing. by donating 20 per-cent of online Dr Katheryne Faccenda of the renewal fees of AAP membership Canadian Motorsports Response Team and driving permits to medical delivered a talk on helmet and head institutions. ZANDVOORT BUILDS NEW MEDICAL CENTER restraint removal techniques, while In Spain, which is the second worst Dave Audley of Charlotte Motor hit country in Europe, the Reial Speedway did a presentation on Automòbil Club Catalunya (RACC) has As part of the upgrades to the Photo credit: spinal immobilizations during made its headquarters available to Zandvoort circuit in preparation for Zandvoort Circuit driver extrication. authorities in Barcelona. The building the Dutch Grand Prix, the facility will There was a demonstration by elite is fitted with a medical heliport and is have a brand-new medical centre. motor sport safety response teams, located close to the main hospitals in Built by De Groot Vroomshoop, a including live fire suppression the city. The Royal Automobile Club subsidiary of earthwork and asphalt practice and an exhibition by Spain has activated its contingency pavers Volker Wessels, the one-storey Holmatro on how to safely extricate plans focused on on-site repair prefab structure is constructed a driver from a cockpit using The FIA and Member Clubs are emergency medical equipment in the interventions. This is in addition to entirely out of wood to make it hydraulic cutting tools. supporting the fight against the areas that are most in need of it.” legal advice that can be sought online sustainable and was transported in The practical demonstrations also Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, with In addition, there is an ad-hoc group for club members. one piece to Zandvoort. Up until 10 years ago the circuit looked at race track safety and a number of initiatives worldwide. that is chaired by FIA Medical In the Czech Republic the Ustrední It is located on the inside of the final didn’t have a dedicated extrication helmet and head restraint removal In a letter that was sent to all Commission President Gérard Saillant Automotoklub Ceské Republiky has corner and features an Intensive Care team, which is something Vos set up techniques from the Canadian members of the FIA, President Jean closely monitoring the situation launched an emergency telephone Unit onsite, which will be used by and promptly earned the FIA award Motorsports Response Team. Todt outlined what the governing worldwide. The FIA has also created the line to provide people with support in medical team Witte Kruis for ‘Best Team of Officials’ at the body is doing, which includes hashtag #RaceAgainstCovid to bring areas affected by Coronavirus. Evenementenzorg who provide the annual prize giving in 2014. launching a platform for exchanging together and promote the automotive These efforts are in addition to the drivers, teams, officials and employees “How we work within ambulance information for doctors and hospitals family’s initiatives against the 'Project Pitlane' initiative launched by of Circuit Zandvoort with medical care care in the Netherlands, with the approved by the FIA. Coronavirus pandemic. seven of the ten F1 teams. The project during all events at the track. frameworks and guidelines of AZN, “Our Federation has put in place a Member clubs are stepping in to has already seen the Mercedes F1 “Every event requires different was not consistent with the guidelines platform for exchanging information help, with The Automobile Association Team work with University College skills,” said Zandvoort's Head of Safety of the FIA,” said Vos. “I combined those between the 150 doctors and 290 Vietnam turning the Protec helmet London to create a ventilator for NHS Team, Björn Vos. “For example, the guidelines and trained the Extrication hospitals approved by the FIA,” said factory, owned by AA Vietnam hospitals (pictured), and McLaren is more professional classes have Team in this way. When we could Todt. “This is to enable the President Greig Craft, into an assembly working as part of a consortium to different cars and materials than the really show how we work as a team, identification and dispatch of line to make face masks, gowns and produce more ventilators. amateur drivers.” we won the FIA Award​​ a year later.”

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FIA HOLDS WEEKLY VIDEO CONFERENCE MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA TO NAME FOR MOTOR SPORT MEDICAL COMMUNITY

DRUG AND ALCOHOL OFFENDERS The FIA is holding weekly video the first session and discussed conferences for Chief Medical the situation in that country, Motorsport Australia has started “Given the number of party contractors attending an Officers (CMO), Deputy CMOs, with over 30 doctors to publish the names of drivers overwhelming tests performed event, and anyone who agrees to and the motor sport medicine participating. who breach its drug and alcohol each year, the number of be bound by the policy. community to monitor the “The idea is to have a policy on its website. infractions is low, but that doesn’t You can read the policies in full Coronavirus situation globally. platform where we can share The new policy, which came mean we can rest on our laurels here: Alcohol Testing Policy & Illicit The conference takes place experiences, and find ways to into effect on 1st March this year, and not provide further Drugs in Sport Testing Policy. virtually with doctors from offer medical support where it will see offenders’ names being deterrence to those who think around the world participating. is needed most worldwide,” said published on the Motorsport they can get away with doing the Dr Kelvin Chew, CMO of the FIA Head of Medical and Rescue Australia website for a period wrong thing.” New policy came Singapore Grand Prix, hosted Pau Mota. into affect in of three months. Previously it was down to March Motorsport Australia CEO the discretion of Motorsport Eugene Arocca said that it would Australia on whether it would serve as a further deterrent, name those who had breached MOTOR SPORT encouraging all those involved its zero tolerance of Alcohol SAFETY PIONEER in motor sport to understand or Illicit Drug Policy for the BILL SIMPSON DIES the importance of adhering first time. to the policy. The policies apply to all “Motorsport Australia has a competitors including co-drivers Former IndyCar driver and motor sport commitment to all motor sport and navigators, officials, Dr Kelvin Chew safety pioneer Bill Simpson has passed participants to provide a safe team members, Motorsport was the first away, following a stroke. and fair playing field” said Arocca. Australia contractors or third- speaker, with A strong advocate for improving driver over 30 doctors safety, Simpson was the creator of participating Simpson Performance Products which made a number of driver protection V8 SUPERCARS CHAMPION FEARED CONCUSSION AFTER 43G CRASH devices including helmets, firesuits, gloves and shoes. He is noted for being part of the breakthrough in using Nomex fireproof around me, it was full-on,” to have to do an MRI.” FIA MEDICAL SUMMIT SET FOR MUNICH Two-time V8 Supercars “I can hardly remember materials when working for NASA, and is McLaughlin continued. “They McLaughlin was taken champion Scott McLaughlin saying that… I don’t know famous for setting himself on fire to prove said ‘we just saw a bit of an in for an MRI which took a feared he sustained a what I was thinking,” said The next FIA Medical Summit There were also workshops his products effectiveness. anomaly on the brain, it’s further 30 mins, before concussion after a 43G McLaughlin. “The doctors and Chief Medical Officers’ that looked at extrication for In 2002 he left Simpson Performance meant to be 50:50, parallel, the all-clear came while impact with a concrete wall don’t really know me, right? Seminar is set to take place in rally cars and single seaters Products due to a dispute over the death but it does look like yours he watched the end of during the Gold Coast 600. So it’s people like Ryan Story Munich, Germany on 5th and that use the Halo, and the of Dale Earnhardt, when initial reports has moved, so we’re going the race. McLaughlin underwent a (team boss) and Karly (wife) 6th December. safety hazards that come with blamed the seat belts manufactured by concussion test at the who noticed on the The two-day conference will electrical cars and how it is Simpson as the cause. trackside medical centre, interviews that I was bring together leading motor standardized across different Subsequent medical investigations into after the accident data slurring a little bit and sport doctors from across the disciplines such as F1, WEC, the accident concluded that it was a recorder in his car recorded mixing up my words.” world, discussing the latest and . basilar skull fracture that caused a 31.5G impact followed by Complaining of a sore developments and theories Dr Dino Altmann and Earnhardt’s death, ultimately leading to a second 42.7G impact. neck McLaughlin returned in the field. Matteo Piraccini also hosted a the adoption of frontal head restraints in The medical team to the medical centre where Previously, the biennial round table discussion based top-level motor sport. completed a SCAT-5 he was put in a neck brace conference was held in St around the prevention of Simpson later went on to create safety concussion test and he and sent to Gold Coast Petersburg, Russia in 2018 injuries in motor sport. A case equipment company Impact! Racing, and was subsequently given University Hospital for where it focused on the study was presented that helped develop lighter and stronger the all-clear to return to further tests. efficiency of extrication and looked at Pietro Fittipaldi’s helmets in American Football due to his team, however later “I went to the hospital, I medical teams using crew accident in the World players suffering from concussion. during a television interview was lying on the bed for resource management and Endurance Championship race A celebration of Simpson’s life will he was heard slurring about 40 minutes, there concussion management in at Spa Francorchamps in 2018, take place at the Indianapolis Motor his words. were like 400 doctors motor sport. in which he broke both his legs. Speedway Museum.

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DR JACQUES FLÖRSCH WINS ‘COMEBACK OF THE YEAR’ AT BOUCHARD STEPS DOWN OMP RACING ACQUIRES BELL HELMETS TO THE LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS CREATE MOTOR SPORT SAFETY GIANT

Dr Jacques Bouchard Sophia Flörsch took home the award for OMP Racing has acquired Bell expected to increase the workforce continues to evolve and with this has stepped down ‘Comeback of the Year’ at this year’s Laureus Racing Helmets Group to create a to over 200 employees. acquisition, we are preparing to face from the FIA Medical World Sports Awards, for her return to motor sport safety equipment “This is the most important the new challenges ahead, confident Commission and has racing after her major accident at the 2018 industry giant. acquisition in OMP’s 46 years history, in the value we can deliver." been replaced by Macau Grand Prix. With over 2,000 products in its and it marks a revolution in the field Bell Helmets supply 11 out of 20 Dr Ronald Denis. During the accident she was launched catalogue OMP can now add one of of motorsports safety equipment,” of the current drivers of the Formula This is as part of the airborne into a photographer’s bunker, but the top manufacturers of head said Paolo Delprato, OMP Racing’s 1 grid including Lewis Hamilton, Kimi FIA’s age limit rule now Flörsch has made her comeback to protection for drivers to its roster, President and CEO. “Motor sport Raikkonen and Charles Leclerc. brought in place in motor sport following a full recovery from with the acquisition seeing it 2018, whereby all spinal injuries. working together with Bell to bring members of FIA Racing for Van Amersfoort racing in last the latest safety innovations to commissions must year’s European Formula 3 championship, motor sport equipment. step down once they she later joined HWA Racelab for the 2019 “It was hard times, but I always had the This means Bell Racing Helmet reach the age of 75 edition of the Macau Grand Prix. goal to come back in a racecar which Group’s research and years old. In her acceptance speech she thanked the happened 106 days later,” she added. development facilities in Bahrain, Dr Bouchard has Mercedes team and Team “Having this in my hand now is incredible, Belgium and US will be further served as principal of Principle Toto Wolff, who provided support and hopefully I’ll be here again in a few years supported by OMP’s facilities in the Formula One while she was being treated in Macau. as World Sportswoman of the Year” Italy and the US. Medical Team for the “I want to thank my parents, my little Flörsch beat fellow nominees Andy This includes an expansion of Grand Prix of Canada in sister, the Mercedes F1 team and Toto Wolff, Murray, the Liverpool football club, Nathan Bell’s Bahrain R&D facility, who helped me in that week,” said Flörsch. Adrian, Christian Lealiifano, and Kawhi Montreal since its “The team helped me with the doctor, Leonard. For the 2020 season she is inception in 1978. Doctor Ceccarelli, who was next to me planning to drive with Campos Racing in Beginning in 1979, Dr Bouchard assumed the whole time.” Formula 3, which supports Formula One. the incidence and long-term need addressing,” he added. “I the role of Chief FORMER MCLAREN impact of injury in sport.” intend to bring all my Medical Officer for the BOSS TO LEAD NEW Hunt is overseeing its launch knowledge and expertise of event, a position he has and growth from its headquaters revolutionising motorsport MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA TIGHTENS shared with Dr Ronald SPORT SAFETY GROUP in London. Founding trustees safety into mainstream sports. FRONTAL HEAD RESTRAINT RULES Denis since 1987. include Peter Hamlyn, a world Areas likely to be looked at He has been leading consultant neurosurgeon are the long-term impact of instrumental in Motorsport Australia has made the use The move follows the findings of a who specialises in high- contact in rugby and the advancing the field of of Frontal Head Restraints (FHR) recent review into safety in performance sports injury. potential damage to the the delivery of health compulsory at club level rally events undertaken by the Australian Institute They are joined by Robin developing brain caused by care at motorsport and speed events, for those using of Motor Sport Safety, with the use of Fenwick, the chief executive and football heading. One ambition events in Canada and vehicles equipped for its use. FHR’s providing significant founder of sports marketing is to develop monitors that can worldwide, through his This will mean anyone racing a 1st improvement to the safety of those consultancy Right Formula, and be used in schools to measure involvement with the category vehicle, or car with a participating in the sport – especially in Kristina Murrin, the chief the forces imposed on the FIA Medical Commission. Motorsport Australia logbook which the instance of a frontal impact. executive of the National brain by heading. This was celebrated in applies a Race, Rally/Road, Off Road or The official regulation for FHR’s will Leadership Centre. A study of A&E admissions in 2016 when he was 5th Category classification, and used in apply in the Motorsport Australia “Safety in sport is something I 2018 found that children and inducted into the an event applicable to its Log Book Manual Schedule D – Apparel, and can am deeply passionate about,” adolescents account for almost Canadian Motorsports classification, requires the mandatory be found here. Former McLaren chairman Ron said Dennis. “I have spent the half of all attendances for Hall of Fame, for being a use of a FHR. Dennis is teaming up with Former past two years analysing injury sporting injuries. Football, rugby significant contributor in The use of FHR will not become British Olympic Association (BOA) in youth sport, looking at how union and rugby league were the advancement of mandatory in speed events for and World Sailing chief executive we might tackle preventable the most dangerous sports for motor sport medicine. competitors who will be participating Andy Hunt, to lead a new injuries that can curtail people’s boys and trampolining, netball Dr Ronald Denis was without the use of additional organisation which aims “to create ability to participate in sport for and horse riding for girls. inducted alongside equipment such as a safety cage, safety a safer world of sport.” the rest of their lives. The pair plan to building a Dr Bouchard for his harness or competition-style seat, such The company called 'Podium “Each year, the UK sees over team of “talented and dedicated efforts in introducing a as using a road registered vehicle at a Analytics' will work to develop 2.7 million visits to A&E as a professionals” with backgrounds video link between club’s ‘come and try day’. “innovative solutions” to result of young people being in science, technology, data circuit and hospital. “significantly reduce or prevent injured during sport and this and sport.

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VIEW FROM THE GROUND: One of the big things when the FIA came to the United States, is they realised we GREG SUMMERVILLE M.D. don’t put doctors in our ambulances, we CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR FORMULA E AND WEC US, DEPUTY CMO FORMULA 1 US GP, TRACK put paramedics in them. I think it would PHYSICIAN FOR SRO MOTORSPORTS, TEAM PHYSICIAN FOR CORVETTE/PRATT&MILLER AT LE MANS. be probably not as good or suboptimal if you said, “You need a doctor in the I started racing before I got the emergency medical services there are ambulance” because that doctor hasn’t involved in the medical side. paid local fire people. Whereas if you go to seen acute crashes on the road like the Besides being a fan it was my brother who some other tracks like Laguna Seca, even the paramedics have. They have great was a mechanic in the Sports Car Club of doctors are volunteers. But it’s hard these experience, they’re very well trained, and America (SCCA) and I started going to races days to justify working for free all the time. it’s very rigorous to get through paramedic just kind of as the gopher - ‘Go for coffee, go When you say that, say the promoters, training and to substitute somebody who’s get the timing sheets, go for whatever’ - and they’re making money, but they’re not paying never seen a crash for someone who does that was when I was still in medical school. the staff anything and it’s the same with the it daily would be a bad thing. For a while I started racing in a Formula corner workers. So, the FIA said “Oh, okay, so you guys are Renault spec-car and during that I would go using paramedics? Kind of like we use to the medical centres at some of these local Depending on what series you work doctors?” I think that was hard for them to tracks and say “Hey, you need help?” and by with there is no training, you can swallow at first, but then it was like, “Yeah, that time, I moved to Atlanta to start my have people like me and I’d like to okay, this way you guys do it. We see the residency in emergency medicine. say in certain cases with 20+ years’ advantage of that and that’s the way it’s done In 1999 I started to attend the experience of doing contract medicine, in the United States. Okay, that’s a good International Conference for Motorsport you get sought after because you thing." So again, I think that the FIA is Sciences, and from there I met a woman have experience. adapting to the way we race and the way we who was organising the Corvette medical The biggest thing about going on track do things in America, and I think there was group to go to Le Mans. Alongside this I is knowing what to do and what not to some forward thinking people that said work for the GT World Challenge as a do, because there is a lot of danger out “Oh, yeah, okay, that’s good, that’s safe." physician. I trade off that job with a very on the track. If you’re a first-time doctor capable doctor from Detroit who is the you might want to listen to our People ask me “What do you need to be Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the IndyCar podcasts we do with Dr Matthew Mac part of a safety team?” And the first thing Detroit Grand Prix. After I did Corvette for a Partlin. that comes out of my mouth is “You’ve got while, IMSA hired me during the American I’ve seen people at particular races who to know which end of a broom to push!” Le Mans Series era. In 2015 I became the are doctors who show up and they wear Once you’re done with the medical part of it, deputy chief medical officer for Formula the proper equipment - fire suit, the drivers cleared and you’re satisfied they’re One at the Circuit of the Americas and I’m fireproof shoes, gloves and balaclava - not injured, you become one of the people the deputy CMO for Formula E. and they understand what their role is that is out there to make the show go on. You and what needs to be done. Whereas pick up a broom, you pick up pieces on the The volunteer scene depends on where I’ve seen some series where, as long as track, you get it cleared for racing. You’re not you’re working, and I’ll use COTA as an someone shows up and is licenced in the just a doctor out there to take care of example. I think all the people that work on state, they’ll take you out on track. the medical things.

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FEATURES LEADING LIGHTS High-tech light panels are set to become the first line of safety at FIA circuits worldwide

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standard for this technology, to ensure circuits around the world are adopting it THE LIGHT PANEL and to further enhance safety and STANDARD WAS DEVELOPED communication between race control, “OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS marshals and drivers. BETWEEN THE FIA AND F1 MAKING THE GRADE ” The FIA Standard 3504-2019 – Light Panels ensures that the panels can still be seen by for Motor Racing Circuits, which was people who are colour blind – an area published in November 2019, is split up examined by the FIA Medical Commission, into three different levels: T1 for use at which made sure that certain colour Grade 1 circuits that host F1, T2 for use at combinations were avoided. Grade 2 circuits that host Formula 2 and World Endurance, and T3 for use at HIGH-TECH RESEARCH Grade 3 circuits that host World Touring British company EM Motorsport, which Cars and Formula E. supplies the software for race control and “The main difference between the three trackside marshalling systems, is the first is in the performance of the light panel and currently only supplier to have passed itself,” explains Stuart Robertson, FIA Head the tests for T1 and T2 panels. Spanish Light panels of Circuit and Rally Safety. “This company PIXELCOM has achieved display crucial performance must match the speed and homologation for its T3 panels. information for drivers reaction times of the drivers on track.” EM Motorsport is the current supplier of This is why a Grade 1 circuit will have light panels to F1 but still had to develop its higher performance requirements technology further to meet the new Flags have been a big part of the history of ensure that every current F1 circuit has compared to a Grade 2 because of the stringent FIA standard. motor sport, acting as a way to get information top-level light panels permanently speed of car that race around it. “We had to modify part of our light panels to drivers on track in the event of an incident. installed and similar systems will filter The FIA tests performance across several to achieve the FIA homologation which is But in recent years they have been down to grade two and three level circuits. parameters, such as Luminance, Viewing quite strict,” explains EM Motorsport supplemented by light panels that can be placed This would represent a huge step Angle and Colour Shifting. engineer Luca De Angelis. “We had to in high risk areas and deliver information quicker forward for safety as the light panels can “These technical requirements usually change some software and some cooling and more clearly to the driver. form the basis for a number of systems take one full day of testing for one panel parts of the hardware to be able to Now this technology is set to become around the track. The panels are and then we examine the data for homologate the panels, so we had some mandatory at FIA championship circuits integrated into the timing systems, CCTV, performance,” says Carlos Soteras, FIA work to do.” worldwide, after the FIA created the first and incident reporting software, giving Circuit Safety Engineer. “It’s the FIA in the To ensure the panels have the required homologation standard for light panels. race control a quick way to deliver concise end that decides if it has passed or not.” performance under direct sunlight, the FIA These high-tech LED panels, which are and critical information to drivers, such as Each panel is sent to the Federal Institute measures two things: the reflection of the operated by race control and trackside an upcoming incident on track, a Virtual of Metrology (METAS) laboratory in panel and the colour shift. De Angelis marshals, are currently used for every F1 Safety Car, or double-waved yellow flags. Switzerland, where it is tested under a explains how the company had to do race but are transported to each track by Over the past two years the FIA has been number of conditions, such as wet weather research into the visibility of the panels in the promoter. The new standard will working to develop the homologation or under direct sunlight. Another test various conditions.

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Marshals can THE GOAL WAS TO operate light panels safely SHOW DRIVERS CLEAR from a distance “INFORMATION THAT CANNOT BE MISUNDERSTOOD” “At the beginning of the light panel project we had to define what was our main light ‘enemy’,” explains De Angelis. “We had to be visible and clear to drivers who are racing at 300km/h and focusing on the road ahead. The goal was to ‘distract’ the drivers from their focus. Showing them clear information and messages that cannot be misunderstood.” This is where a light panel has a distinct advantage over a waved flag because it can adapt to conditions to ensure it is always visible to the driver. Another advantage is that a light panel could be installed anywhere on the circuit, even at the most hazardous point of a high speed corner, Race control whilst a marshal needs to be a certain links to panels and can override distance away from the action. marshals if needed “The standard flag is a passive object subjected to the light physics (reflection/ refraction of the light) and the would appear in the onboard TV cameras. which is why it is making it mandatory Grade 1 circuits around the world, it is just for environment has a big impact over this “In the standard, there is one criteria based on championships rather than circuit the 29 that host F1 and MotoGP races that compared to the light panel,” adds De which is called flickering and this technical grade itself. these panels will become mandatory by 2022. Angelis. “During sunset races for example, parameter measures these kind of things,” There is also a cost consideration as In addition, every new Grade 1 circuit will the sun is low on the horizon so a driver says Soteras. “To ensure that the drivers circuits typically need between 10 and 20 of have to implement the T1 panel by 2022, may be looking directly at it while driving. don’t have problems with it, we also want to these light panels to cover the track, with with new Grade 2 circuits getting This means the panels have to be more show that for the television cameras this each T1 panel costing around €10,000. This homologation in 2023 for the T2 panel, and visible than the sun, even when it is effect doesn’t appear.” is not including the cabling and system new Grade 3 circuits in 2024 for the T3 directly in the background.” installation that enables each panel to link panel. For circuits that host non-permanent To solve the issue of people seeing BRIGHT FUTURE up to a marshal post and to race control street races, such as Singapore and distorted images due to the frequency The aim for the FIA is to make the light through a fibre optic network. Azerbaijan, one of the ways the FIA is going differences, the FIA looked at how the light panel technology affordable for all circuits, So whilst there are currently 46 FIA licenced to support them is by working with suppliers

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to enable them to hire their light panels for an event if they do not want to make the WE ARE GOING TO COME UP investment to purchase them straight away. WITH AN AFFORDABLE LIGHT “Obviously a lot of investment from “ circuits depends on the promotional PANEL THAT CAN BE USED AT agreement they have with F1,” says LOWER GRADE CIRCUITS Robertson. “As you can imagine if someone is renegotiating next year then that would sometimes seen that the flags are ”replacing be high on their list of topics to ensure the marshals but this isn’t true. You still they can afford to implement the panels need marshals at events and corners and for 2022. But if a circuit is finishing an you still need marshals to be the eyes and agreement very soon after 2022, they ears, and aware of any on-track incident.” may wish to hold off and just rent the In the longer term the FIA hopes to make panels until such time that they’ve got a this system more affordable for grassroots new agreement.” motor sport, including karting, by creating But it will be to the circuits benefit to products that can be installed just for a introduce these for the future as the race weekend. technology develops. Robertson points out “We are going to come up with an the FIA is looking at ways to make the affordable light panel system which could integration between race control and the be used at national club racing circuits and cars more automated so these panels will also an affordable marshalling system to become a key part of racing’s future. plug into a car,” says Robertson. “As is often One new project involves using advanced the case, we’re starting at the top level and GPS systems to precisely locate the position then cascading down because we really of a car on track at any time. This connects want to work on the more grassroots end to the trackside panels to give information of the market as well.” to that particular driver, and eventually this Other projects that the FIA has introduced could be automated so the right flag would at top-level motor sport, such as the display to a driver in a quicker time than Accident Data Recorder in F1, are now any human operator could manage being used in the national F4 series Giles Cooper, EM Motorsport’s Business worldwide. With the rate at which Development Manager, explains: “There technology develops it will only be a matter are some areas that we can automate such of time before affordable light panel as the blue flag, because we know where systems are seen at most circuits. the cars are and which lap they are on. For the FIA the effort means that officials We can show the blue flag to the car that can have more focus on incidents on track is approaching that panel, and don't rely in real time and for competitors it means on a marshal pressing a button.” quicker response times from officials, But this would not eliminate the need for ensuring their safety at the most critical Marshals still marshals altogether. As Cooper says. “It’s moments in a race. wave flags if they are not cleaning up the circuit

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IAN DUNBAR FIA RESCUE SPECIALIST

Ian Dunbar is the FIA’s newly appointed advanced first aid. So I did a trauma course Rescue Specialist, with over 25 years’ that was designed principally for doctors and experience working in the UK Fire and I managed to pass. I was asked to join the faculty to become part of the staff, teaching Rescue Service and as a rescue consultant. doctors from all around the world on vehicle AUTO+ Medical spoke to him about his extrication. On the technical side I joined the history of working in motor sport and the United Kingdom Rescue Organization whose challenges of trackside rescue from both a ethos is to improve response to road traffic medical and technical point of view. collisions in the UK and I became an assessor for them. That really enhanced my awareness and understanding of all elements of vehicle extrication.

AUTO+ Medical: What is your background A+M: How did you get involved with motor in technical and medical rescue? sport? Ian Dunbar: I joined the UK Fire Service when ID: If we fast forward to 2010, by which time I was 17 and I’ve been in emergency response I was a world qualified assessor. I was at the for nearly 30 years now. After 12 years in World Extrications Challenge in Ireland and the fire service I was offered a position as I was approached by Holmatro, one of the an instructor, and I was put in a specialist major manufacturers of hydraulic rescue department that focused on everything from equipment, and they offered me a job as a road safety education to intervention. Most consultant. It was a hard to decision to leave of my role was training the fire fighters in the the UK Fire Service but eventually I accepted Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, ensuring and we relocated to the Netherlands in 2011. they were able to safely and effectively My work for that company took me to more respond to road traffic collisions. than 100 countries working with emergency That is when my career started to focus services, police, fire, any organization on the technical rescue and medical aspects who deals with road traffic collisions. of rescue, and I quickly developed a real My job focused on education, research passion for it. I decided to take a pre-hospital and development, and empowering the course because as a fire fighter in the UK we emergency responders around the world to were not (in those days) trained much above be best with what they do.

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While I was working for that company I was Safety Team from the British Touring Car three and a half years of BTCC, and that was South America or a rally stage in Scandinavia. approached by FIA research consultant Andy Championship (BTCC). I was asked to join my first real venture into motor sport in a What we do well, and what we can improve? Mellor, who was working on the Halo project the team in 2016. Primarily I agreed because professional rescue capacity. It is about sharing best practice, as there are in 2016. He explained the Halo concept to me I love the BTCC, but when I started having some incredibly passionate and dedicated and he said ‘Would you be available to do a discussions with Martin Hunt, who is the A+M: How did this role within the FIA people working in motorsport and they do little bit of work around what impact the Halo rescue chief on the TOCA Safety Team, I come about? brilliant things. may have on driver extrication? Can we cut it? thought maybe I can add a bit of value. My ID: In addition to my continued work around On the technical side, it involves looking Can we remove it if we have to?’ so I did. Over impression was that in terms of technical the Halo I also did some single-seater cutting at all of the ingredients involved in rescue. a period of about two years I worked with rescue in motor sport, a lot of the people who tests with the FIA in 2019. I wasn’t aware at Researching equipment; what equipment Andy on that. respond to accidents are a bit like myself - the time, but the FIA was starting to look at do people use? How has the construction of fire fighters or paramedics who are off duty a role for someone who was a specialist in vehicles changed and what impact will have A+M: And then you got involved with the - but it’s probably less than 5 per-cent; it is technical rescue. Then when I looked at the that have on our ability to extricate a driver? British Touring Car Championship? ‘your butcher, your baker, your candlestick job description from the FIA, I printed it off, Also looking at how we train people and ID: One of the Halo sessions I did was at maker’ and I was mightily impressed with showed it to my wife and she said ‘Well, that’s condition them to be able to actively respond and I worked with the TOCA their dedication and professionalism. I did just clearly you isn’t it?’ and it’s one of those in a pressurized environment. job descriptions where you think ‘This is me and everything I’ve worked for, certainly for A+M: For grassroots events how can you Dunbar worked as a consultant the last 20 years’ and after a three to four ensure that extrication is at the right level for Holmatro in month process, they offered me the role. there? the US ID: For me it’s quite simple – there should A+M: What’s your role now? be no difference in our approach to ID: My title is ‘Rescue Specialist’ and my developing those involved in grassroots mandate is to work within the medical and motorsport compared to those who attend safety department in the FIA and really assess World Championship events. Whilst the what we do from a technical perspective. level of exposure is obviously different, the Quite honestly, I think the first thing for me consequences of something going wrong are to do is to learn more about the motor sport comparable. We therefore need to make sure environment worldwide. My plan for the that crews who respond to an incident during first six to twelve months is to learn more a hill climb on a cold winter morning in the about all of the championships and more UK have the same mental and physical tools about how we react and respond in different available as those who deal with an incident environments, whether that is on a circuit in during the Monaco Grand Prix. I guess that is easier said than done, but it is a position we should aspire to. MY PASSION HAS BEEN A+M: Are there any other areas of CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN “ technical rescue that can be improved TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL that you’re targeting? ASPECTS OF RESCUE ID: My passion for the last 15 years has ” been closing the gap between the technical 22 23 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

and medical aspects of rescue. Clinicians can work better if they have an acute RESPONDING TO understanding of the technical complexities SOMETHING ON TRACK IS and conversely, technical rescuers can be “DIFFERENT TO RESPONDING TO more patient-focused if they understand key concepts like mechanism of injury and SOMETHING ON THE ROAD the importance of gentle handling. There ” is a definite benefit in the two disciplines areas; vehicle technology and dealing with working more closely together and each the patient. understanding far more about the others role. I think my role within the FIA will undertake Historically, rescue has been seen as really relevant research that doesn’t only paramedics and doctors working on the apply to motorsport but also to the wider patient while the technical rescuers wield population and can positively impact on the tools and make a big hole. Over the last those who perform ‘road rescue’. decade or so this has changed to a position What I would like to do is to get the where we are now far more patient-centred practitioners a lot closer together, and one thanks to closer collaboration. This must thing I’ve discussed is a call to action from continue and one of my aims is to develop the emergency services around the world to this trend within motorsports. say ‘Why don’t you come and get involved Additionally, I am fascinated by human in motorsport, your experience would be factors. Responding to an incident on track or invaluable. on a rally stage is an extremely pressurized I think there is a huge benefit in that role, especially when someone is injured and kind of cross pollination of knowledge and trapped. How we plan, make decisions, work understanding. They could be brought closer as a team and deal with things if they are not together and provide a very productive going right, is an area of rescue response platform for learning. that is so vitally important. This is especially when we consider that the overwhelming A+M: So are you excited about this new majority of motorsport rescue teams around challenge? the world do not routinely operate in such an ID: I see this role as a fantastic challenge for environment as part of their day job. me, despite what I’ve done previously in my career, there is a lot for me to learn in this A+M: Will any of your work cross over into role and that’s why I’m really excited about it. road safety? Responding to something on track is different ID: I think primarily because of the to responding to something on the road - background I’ve come from I know that fire they both have their unique challenges but fighters all around the world who respond also there are many similarities, so for me it to road traffic collisions have the thirst for is a learning curve that I relish and hopefully knowledge, possibly more so than any other I can bring some value to the FIA and clubs area of their job. Primarily it relates to two around the world.

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AUTO+ Medical spoke to three doctors from few days later and the UK government the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada advising against any large gatherings. As to see what the situation is like in their events unfolded, we have had discussions respective territories and how this will about the number of emergency care assets affect motor sport going forward. motor sport has access to, including ambulances and ventilators and how these can be utilised by the NHS. Many of the teams UNITED KINGDOM and those involved are anxious about the situation and their jobs, most self-employed DR PAUL TRAFFORD and relying on being in work to pay their bills. Chairman Motorsport UK medical We have now entered a complete lock down committee and Medical Director in the UK, something no one has ever British Touring Car Championship experienced, with people only being allowed out to buy essential supplies, take a walk I am an anaesthetist once a day with family members and at a safe and have just finished distance, or go to work if it is an essential job. working five So many people now are at home without HOW CORONAVIRUS consecutive days in an income, although the UK government have theatres and five put in place measures to help. Doctors and nights being on call those involved in health care are fortunate to IS AFFECTING MOTOR for any patients who be able to contribute and still have work, but need to be taken back this is not without risk. My wife is a surgeon SPORT WORLDWIDE with problems. As and one of the nurses she works with is someone who has a major involvement in currently on a ventilator in intensive care. She As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, motor motor sport and has worked part time in the sent a text to everyone she works with saying sport is being put on hold, with many events either cancelled or National Health Service (NHS) in the UK for she had COVID-19 and was being transferred postponed until further notice. This is to help combat the spread many years, I never expected to return to to be ventilated – she went on to say she of the virus and reduce the possibility of overwhelming health work full time, let alone be the only wanted everyone to know she had loved her care services. And the doctors that are usually at the track now find anaesthetist in a hospital designated for work and everyone she worked with and they themselves on the frontline of defence against this pandemic. urgent cancer surgery while many of my had been the best years of her life, but she colleagues are struggling with covering was frightened she might not make it. That emergency rotas, self-isolation and really brought home the stark reality of what expanding a network of intensive care beds was happening. It makes you realise the to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. important things in life. In the UK suddenly Before everything was locked down and all motor sport activities stopped, I was at the IN THE UK THE NHS first Porsche UK test day of the year, followed by the launch of the British Touring Car “HAS BECOME THE MOST Championship at Silverstone. These were to IMPORTANT FOCUS FOR be the last motor sport activities in the UK, EVERYONE with Motorsport UK suspending all events a ” 26 27 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

everyone is more helpful and considerate, deflation, of all that preparation for no event, CANADA consequences are staggering. Is it even possible the NHS has become the most important was palpable. And thereafter sporting codes to predict the impact of COVID-19 on our sport focus for everyone, with many of the major rapidly began to shut down as the reality of DR ROB SEAL, Clinical Professor and once the pandemic has passed? It is likely to motor sport companies turning their the COVID-19 disease manifested itself. Director Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia affect our sport at every level – amateur and expertise to manufacturing medical Australia prides itself on being a sporting professional competitors, team owners and equipment and everyone offering help. When nation. Some sports have continued albeit As I am married to a personnel, and the infrastructure from all this is over the world will have changed, under heavy restrictions, playing in empty physician who is an marshals and safety personnel through to motor sport will start again but we will all stadia and facing a mixture of criticism and expert in that field, promoters and track owners. have a different perspective on life and praise for doing so. The majority of motor acquaintances often Globally, we are also facing many losses in hopefully be more caring to one another. sport in Australia has closed down. approach me for our recreation and entertainment. These Social distancing restrictions may limit advice or reassurance activities round out our lives and are essential AUSTRALIA on track activity and prevent spectator about infectious to our mental health. The temporary attendance but sim racing provides a diseases. Regrettably, suspension motor sports is certainly a loss of DR MATTHEW MAC PARTLIN, Deputy Chief platform, albeit a less physical one, to race this is not one of that type for many. Medical Officer WRC and on. F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, the Australian ARG those occasions. The COVID-19 pandemic has In Canada most provinces have declared a Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Supercars have all placed us in a situation of enormous state of emergency. Pre-season training sessions announced plans to run their normal uncertainty. Even if you are good at for motor sport safety teams and marshals have In December at the calendars as a virtual racing series, mathematics, it is difficult to comprehend the been postponed. Whilst not yet declared, there end of last year a very providing much needed distraction impact of something that increases in a is a possibility that major motor sports events large bushfire caused during difficult times. logarithmic fashion. Some colleagues such as the Canadian Grand Prix, the Toronto the cancellation of There are other ways that the motor sport throughout the world have already faced the Indy, and others may not take place in 2020. the Australian World industry can help. Already F1 manufacturers need to care for a volume of patients that has Similar uncertainty rests throughout the entirety Rally Championship are exploring ways to modify their parts overwhelmed their healthcare systems. of Canadian motor sport. stage, resulting in the factories to be able to produce essential Whereas others of us are early in the phases of Many people in Canada have become premature endings of health care equipment such as ventilator bracing for the impact through education, unemployed and one hopes that their jobs will the series season. parts. Motor sport teams have great preparation, and re-directing our resources in return following the pandemic. However, it is There was disappointment after all of the experience in efficiently managing supply the hope that we will be able to cope. likely that jobs will be lost as some businesses hard work only to have the event called off chain logistics and efficient workflow Health system capacity alone is unable to will not survive the economic impact of the the day before competition. But we knew the patterns. Now might be a good time to bring tackle the problem of COVID-19. World-wide pandemic. The financial consequences of loss bushfires would be brought under control, those skills to health care systems that are public health measures, particularly those of major motor sports events are far reaching so we packed up and started planning for already, or are about to be, struggling with involving preventative hygiene and social and extend beyond the operation of the events the next event. high demand, high stakes, dwindling distancing are essential. It is hoped that these themselves. Parallel to the health concerns, In addition to the usual months of planning, resources and eroding morale. efforts may flatten the shape of the incidence these socioeconomic uncertainties are strategies for managing the coronavirus at curves in order to keep the number of enormous. the opening Formula One race in Melbourne seriously ill cases within the capacity of the Unlike the Spanish Influenza pandemic which were developed. Meetings were held to SOCIAL DISTANCING MAY healthcare system. Time will tell how well this occurred in an era the preceded the ensure that everything that could be done will work. It is also possible that these efforts “connectedness era” in which we now live, I am LIMIT ON TRACK ACTIVITY, was in place. The support category cars hit “ may increase the duration of the pandemic. optimistic that the global working relationships the track for practice, qualifying and one race, BUT SIM RACING PROVIDES A In motor sports, we are drawn into this and perhaps more importantly the friendships and the next day the Australian Formula One PLATFORM TO RACE ON pandemic along with everyone else on the that we have made through organizations such Grand Prix was cancelled. The sense of ” planet. Beyond healthcare, the socioeconomic as the FIA will enhance our ability to re-build. 28 29 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

INSIDE THE… different from the road car. This includes the 7km in length, where other safety cars, light bar on the roof which is FIA positioned at intermediate points around WEC SAFETY CAR homologated and alerts drivers of the current the circuit, can be authorised by the FIA. track status, and a radio for contacting the This is why in addition to the main Safety The Porsche name is synonymous with To keep the prototypes at the front of the race director, with the brakes and suspension Car, Porsche AG will be supplying a reserve endurance racing and is one of the most field running at an adequate speed that optimised for the racetrack. Safety Car while Three 911 Turbo will head successful marques to win the illustrious ensures enough heat is in their tyres and “Many of our production models fit the bill to Le Mans as permanent vehicles. 24 hours of Le Mans. But since 2018 it has brakes, and drive cooling air through the for this special task on the race circuit,” said The Leading Car is driven by FIA Driver also been key to the safety of sportscar radiators, the Safety car must be part of a Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Head of Porsche Adviser and former 24 Hours of Le Mans special breed of high-performance vehicles racing, as the sole provider of the fleet Motorsport. “Ultimately, however, we chose winner Yannick Dalmas. This car leads the suitable for circuit driving. the Porsche 911 as the safety car. In total, 16 race away for a formation lap before the of safety cars for the World Endurance With that in mind, the all-wheel-drive 911 vehicles from different model lines will fulfil official start is given (all WEC races have Championship. produces 540bhp and will go from zero to different functions in the WEC.” rolling starts) and can be deployed 100km in just 3.0 seconds and features just a In WEC, only one safety car can be in by the Race Director at any time for few modifications that make it slightly operation at a time, except for circuits of over official purposes.

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Full-shell racing seats with six-point harnesses for the driver and front passenger, a monitor to display track signals, a radio to contact the race director, a signal light system on the roof as well as flashing LED lights at the front and rear have been added to the intervention car for its racetrack duties.

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THE ROAD BACK: ELFYN EVANS During the 2019 Rally Estonia, Elfyn Evans was running in fourth place when midway through the stage he landed hard in his M-Sport Ford after one of the high jumps and ploughed into a ditch. The landing caused damage to Evans’ back and resulted in him missing the next three events. AUTO+ Medical speaks to him about his recovery and how back injuries, a common issue in rallying, can be treated.

AUTO+ Medical: Can you give me some A+M: When were you first aware of background on what happened? the injury? Elfyn Evans: We were competing in Rally EE: I was in a lot of pain to finish the rally, Estonia, a rally with a lot of jumps, and we but I thought that I would be okay, that had quite a big jump at high speed. We it was just something out of place in my landed ever so slightly offline, meaning that back and I didn’t really consider anything the left-hand side wheels landed in a bit of a about breaking anything as such. I tried ditch. As a result, the suspension on the left to see somebody locally but there were side of the car didn’t take any of the brunt of no scans or anything available there, the landing, so it essentially landed on the so I essentially carried on and just tried floor of the car. The wheels are obviously to slow down a little bit on the jumps, in contact, but because it was down a ditch although the jumps themselves were still it was a solid impact with the protection quite painful. I continued for a day and of the car. It broke the throttle pedal on a half of the rally after the impact, which the landing, I was severely winded and in probably didn’t help in hindsight, but at some pain at the time, although I was able the time you just think you want to carry to complete the stage after I managed to on and learn as much as possible, etc, gather my breath and try to get the throttle etc. It wasn’t really until I went home and pedal back. I actually went on and finished went through the networks to try and the rally, but obviously at the time I had no get seen that I then found out obviously idea on the extent of the injury. what I’d done.

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I wasn’t really happy about that, I wanted to A+M: What were the injuries? get back in the car sooner. EE: When I got back to the UK, I got in touch Red Bull UK who have a support network for A+M: Did you look at any ways you could athletes. They put me in touch with physios speed up the process? Harris & Ross who got me seen immediately EE: I started doing some research to see on the day I landed back in the UK. I was how I could accelerate the healing, because seen there, and they thought that I would I think after looking into all sorts of these be maybe okay, but they didn’t know so options of cementing your back, I came they requested a few scans. I already had to the conclusion that healing naturally an MRI scan, then by the time I travelled was the only realistic and sensible thing to home I had the results to say that I had do for longevity in the sport. Then I tried two fractures in T-45 vertebra, they call it to find every therapy to try and aid my a compression fracture which one of them recovery to be as quickly as possible, and was a wedge fracture. They said that it was the key thing that I found was working with obviously quite serious and then I realised an electromagnetic field mat. So what the at that point I would be out of the car for consultants at Harris and Ross, who were some time. looking after my injuries, said is that all these therapies, the worst thing that can A+M: Were there any sort of doctors happen from it is nothing, that it gives you and physios that you work with in those no acceleration in healing at all and it’s not months you were out of the car? going to make anything worse. EE: When I got told I had a fractured back I looked into a few different options, I I didn’t really understand what that meant had quite a lot of sessions of cryotherapy. and what the permutations were, so I went The main thing was this electronic field map to see Red Bull again who arranged for me that I was on three times a day, it was by a to go back and have a CT scan to the proper company called ‘Life Map Company’ in the understanding of how bad it was and I saw UK, who dealt with these iMRS (Intelligent a pretty good consultant. He effectively Magnetic Resonance Stimulation) systems said, because I was young, fit and healthy, Evans is the currently and I was getting a programme off them second in the WRC to operate was not really an option because standings after winning of how often to be on the mat as well as it would cause a lot of problems later on in this year supplements to take to support the healing. life. Although it might give an acceleration Alongside this I was travelling back and in healing time now, but realistically you’re forth to Manchester to Harris and Ross going to have to rest up to 12 weeks and not to try and do some exercises, they told do too much except for a few little stretchy- I HAD TWO FRACTURES me that they didn’t want to put me in a type exercises. But then obviously when brace because that would mean a longer IN THE T-45 VERTEBRA, THEY they quoted 12 weeks I was like “I don’t “ recovery process because you’d lose all want to wait that long!” Harris and Ross CALL IT A COMPRESSION your core strength. But if they weren’t were very good and trying to support me FRACTURE putting me in a brace that I would have with exercises and stuff, they also told me to be very careful. So, the only exercise I “You’re gonna have to wait 12 months,” but ” was able to do was on an exercise bike but

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put in a very upright position to watch my pressure on Harris and Ross to persuade lot of alternatives available. We’re guided posture. I was doing that, more or less the consultant to see me earlier. And I HAD ONE DAY TO PREPARE by strict homologation on things and there every day along with exercises that to try actually after a week he said “I can’t believe FOR WALES RALLY GB AND TO BE is probably only three or four seats on the and strengthen my core and support my it, but it’s more or less fully healed and you “ market, and then you have commercial back as much as possible. So my days were could go back in the car.” So it showed that HONEST, THE FIRST COUPLE OF agreements, etc. It’s often that there’s only quite intense from a time point to you these therapies work because he said to me HOURS WERE QUITE TOUGH one or two seats available, and it’s not the know, it was taking a long time to apply all “I see 40 patients with back injuries every case of just changing something quickly. It’s these therapies and drive back and forth day and I never see it healing like this,” so ” a difficult one, because you could probably to Shrewsbury to get the cryotherapy. I I was fortunate that I got found the right A+M: What was it like when you actually end up in a situation where you could get was on this mat for basically two and a way for it to heal, but obviously then I have got back into the car? seats that fit people a lot better by having half hours total time a day. So, it was really to turn around and get back in the car very EE: I did a small day in R5 but that didn’t more relaxed rules, but the reality is then time consuming basically and although quickly after that. I hadn’t really done any really help so much, I had one day basically them seats would never be able to be you would associate looking after yourself real weight loading and all that type of thing, to prepare for Wales Rally GB and to be tested and be strong enough to match the by not doing a great deal with a lot of free so it was a bit of a scramble then if you honest the first couple hours were quite homologation model of the safety cell in a time, I ended up actually with not so much know what I mean to try and load my back, tough. I’d been out of the car for three different type of accident. So it is something free time. After eight weeks I persuaded to because nobody expected that it was as rally’s and normally we’d be driving the that’s very important, but at the same time go back for scan to follow up, I really put strong as it was so soon after the accident. car every two to three weeks at the most more needs to be done to look at and therefore I felt quite strange. But by the jumps. lunchtime, I’d already found a good feeling Evans consulted Red Bull UK who in the car and I was able to push really A+M: Do you have any advice for just put him in touch with hard and I felt pretty okay. So I was able drivers who suffer similar injuries? doctors across the UK to feel comfortable, I don’t know if I was EE: Yeah I mean, basically you can’t just fastest but I was definitely top three in the listen to one person is what I would say, shakedown, so it was pretty good from the to get a very complete picture and do off really. what you feel is best after that. Everybody has their own theories or their own ways A+M: Were there any modifications you to go around doing things, all different made to the seat? consultants or different therapies. But EE: Yeah, let’s say I wasn’t particularly happy sometimes you need advice and help with the seat that I had anyway in the car, from a range of different people, not just so I changed the seat after that. Probably necessarily one person. something that should have been done long before but when these things happen, then Editors Note: As a result of research into you realise the importance of it. enhancing the safety of WRC cars, this year the FIA implemented a new seat bracket A+M: What are your thoughts on these system which prevents the peak G-Force load type of injuries in rally? Do you think during a crash from being transferred to the drivers should be looking at the seating drivers. The brackets helped Ott Tänak and position in the car? co-driver Martin Järveoja escape injury after EE: I mean, it’s important that it’s right. But their 45G impact during this year's Rally to be honest, at the time, we didn’t have a Monte Carlo.

38 39 AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Every issue of AUTO+ Medical contains a research paper or injury case study that takes a scientific look at the sport.

All submissions are welcome For each submission please AUTO+ MEDICAL so if you have a study that include a summary of the EDITORIAL BOARD you feel would be suitable research and all necessary for publication in future contact information. Dr Paul Trafford issues of AUTO+ Medical, (Chairman) please send it to: The editorial board will [email protected] evaluate each submission Dr Robert Seal before it is accepted for use (Medical Director, Canadian in the magazine. Motorsports Response Team)

Dr Matthew Mac Partlin (Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Australian GP & World Rally Championship)

Dr Pedro Esteban (FIA Medical Delegate, World Rallycross Championship)

Dr Jean Duby (Medical Trainer, FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies)

Dr Dino Altmann (Deputy President, FIA Medical Commission)

Dr Pau Mota (FIA Head of Medical and Rescue)