INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOTOR SPORT MEDICINE ISSUE#13, APRIL 2018

HEADS OF PERFORMANCE Exploring the brain as the next frontier of performance in motor sport P24 PETTER SOLBERG Back on track just two weeks after surgery on a broken collar bone P28 SPINAL INJURY RESEARCH Using simulation models to analyse crashes and examine spinal injury P36

RACING ENABLED How disabled drivers are competing at the top level of motor sport AUTO+MEDICAL AUTO+MEDICAL

I am very proud to be writing this introduction for this latest edition of AUTO+ Medical. Our cover feature looks at the new FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission, a very significant and important LETTERS/ development by FIA President Jean Todt, in an area affecting motor sport at all levels, P4 The best letters and emails received from readers around the world from off road to circuits. It's particularly GLOBAL NEWS/ poignant for me to have seen how a young P6 IndyCar agrees deal with American Medical Response Billy Monger has struggled against all odds P7 ICMS focuses on safety and response times to regain a race licence and after an P7 Billy Monger takes podium on racing return in single seaters amendment to our regulations, is now back P7 New Deputy President appointed in single seater racing. P8 Bottas uses eye doctor to stay sharp P8 Drivers call for increased safety at Bathurst I’m sure you will all join me in sending best P9 Three FIA Medical Commission members retire wishes to three of the longest serving and P9 Safety experts train at Le Mans original founding FIA Medical Commission members: Jean-Jacques Issermann, who will FEATURES/ be known only too well by anyone who has P10 RACING ENABLED ever been involved in extrication training; A look at how innovative technology and the FIA's new commission Robert Scarlot, who has overseen the motor are helping to make motor sport more accessible to disabled drivers sport medical affairs in Monaco for so long; P24 HEADS OF PERFORMANCE and Professor Hugh Scully from Canada, and Kings College London are exploring the brain to help with driver performance who recounts some of the early days in our P30 INSIDE THE RESCUE VEHICLE letters page. They won’t disappear from The British Touring Car Championship Series has unveiled a new motor sport but are retiring from the state-of-the-art ‘TOCA Safety Team’ truck ahead of the 2018 season Medical Commission. P28 THE ROAD BACK: PETTER SOLBERG Congratulations go to Dino Altman from The IndyCar racer talks about his high-speed crash during qualifying Brazil who is appointed as Vice President of for the 2017 Indy 500, and how he returned just three months later the Medical Commission and also joins the STUDY/ editorial board for this publication. Please let us know your thoughts and P36 TOYOTA’S SPINAL INJURY RESEARCH USING SIMULATION SOFTWARE With the use of simulation models, Toyota and the FIA are analysing opinions, all your comments and crashes to better understand spinal injuries submissions are always welcome.

Editor: Marc Cutler Deputy Editor: Rory Mitchell Contributor: Joe Diamond Designer: Cara Furman Dr Paul Trafford, Chairman, We welcome your feedback: [email protected] Editorial Board, AUTO+ Medical

2 AUTO+MEDICAL LETTERS AUTO+MEDICAL LETTERS

device and head-surround, better brakes, wheel tethers, safer barriers, better circuit design with better run off and safety fence design, and better security... all to the benefit of all motor sport. I have been honoured to be recognized in Sid In this section, we print the best letters and emails received from readers around the Watkins first book "Life in the Fast Lane" along with world. We welcome comments on articles as well as suggestions for future content. If Sir Jackie Stewart and Lord Stanley, to have been you wish to send in a letter or email, please direct it to: [email protected] elected to Life Membership in the Canadian Race Drivers' Association and the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada, to have been awarded the John Bassett Award and the John Reid Dear Editor Trophy and be the first physician elected to the It is with great sadness that I step down due to the world was put together in Paris in 1981. Jean- Canadian Hall of Fame for the new age restriction rules from the FIA Jacques Issermann (France), Robert Scarlot "outstanding contribution to medical care and Medical Commission after nearly 40 years and (Monaco), Professor Nalda (Spain), Dr. Rovelli safety in motorsport." would like to share with you all how it all started. (Italy), Professor Watkins (Great Britain) and I Since 2011, I have had the challenge and I started the Race Physician Team in Canada (Canada) were the founding Members. We elected privilege to be the chairman of the Canadian 50 years ago. Then there were no facilities, Sid as the Chairman... and the rest is history! Motorsport Hall of Fame and President of the medical centre, equipment, nurses, paramedic/ From 1994-2011, I had the great honour, Canadian Motorsport Heritage Foundation. firefighter/rescue personnel, or rescue/ privilege and opportunity to be the Chairman of It has been and continues to be a great pleasure ambulance vehicles. We introduced strategically the International Council of Motorsport Sciences and personal satisfaction to be a major "player" in placed rescue, ambulance and track service (ICMS) based in Indianapolis. We invited Sid to join this arena. I have had many invitations around the vehicles around the circuit to assure rapid us and be appointed as an Honorary Member of honoured and pleased to be invited as one of the world to present and discuss the principles of response to accidents, and the first special our Board. He attended and contributed to our Founding Members. In 2017, its safety research motor sport safety (Australia, England, Mexico, rescue medical car in North America to follow annual scientific meetings regularly. programmes were taken on by the Global Brazil, Malaysia, Italy, Doha, Istanbul, Vienna, the cars on the first lap after a standing start at the At Sid's invitation as the Chairman of the Institute for Motor Sport Safety, the FIA’s safety US and across Canada). I have enjoyed great same time Jean Jacques Issermann was trying Medical Commission, I made the proposition that research partner. international friendships with other participants in the same concept in France. When Prof Sid the FIA Medical Commission and ICMS hold a joint In the early 1970s, annual driver mortality in F1 our motor sport safety ventures. Watkins came to Mosport in Canada in 1974 meeting. This was enthusiastically endorsed, and was 1 in 7. Other series were equally dangerous. While I have enjoyed a very successful career as with F1 he was impressed with the medical car our first "summit" was held in London in 1991. Many drivers, track personal and spectators were a cardiac surgeon, Professor of Surgery and Health concept and introduced it into F1. Subsequently, we have convened joint summits seriously injured or killed during motor Policy at the University of Toronto, President of all I worked with Sid Watkins and Jackie Stewart in Miami, Puerto Nuevo and Rome. Discussions sport events. heart specialists in Canada, and all physicians in along with many others around the world in a are underway for another "summit" in 2019 As a result of the great collaborative efforts the Ontario and Canada, I have always had a passion determined effort to improve medical and in Indianapolis. FIA, the ICMS and others, there have been great for and found great pleasure in motor sport. rescue services and overall safety in motor At the invitation of then FIA President Max improvements in motor sport safety over the I wish all my colleagues well and will sport. On three occasions: Hungary, Mexico and Mosley, Professor Sid Watkins created the FIA past forty years. undoubtedly miss the FIA Medical Commission Malaysia I substituted for Sid as "Medical Institute for Motor Sport Safety and Sustainability We have incorporated better driver fitness, but will continue to contribute to the safety of our Delegate" on a Friday or Saturday... although Sid in 2004, based in Paris. This was a creative effective protective clothing and helmets, highly sport wherever and whenever I can. xxxxxx never missed a race day in all of the years that marriage of motor sport-oriented physicians, trained medical / rescue teams, better race medical xxxxxxx he was the Medical Delegate to . engineers and officials all dedicated to research centres,xxxxxxxx communication systems, trauma centres, The first motor sport ‘Medical Commission’ in and the application to motor sport safety. I was better tub design, fire-proof fuel cells, the HANS Dr Hugh Scully

4 5 AUTO+MEDICAL GLOBAL NEWS AUTO+MEDICAL GLOBAL NEWS

ICMS FOCUSES BILLY MONGER TAKES PODIUM ON ON SAFETY AND RACING RETURN IN SINGLE SEATERS RESPONSE TIMES seater catagories, Monger tested GLOBAL The 29th International Council of a British F3 earlier this year using Motor Sport Sciences’ Annual an adapted system. Congress took place at Indianapolis The paddle on the steering on 7-8 December 2017, where a range wheel allows his right hand to of topics regarding medical and accelerate, while using left to motor sport safety were discussed. upshift and downshift. He then Notable appearances came from uses his right prosthetic leg to NEWS legendary team owner Chip Ganassi operate the brake pedal. who spoke about his career, and His presence in the F3 race was IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball who confirmed just a week prior to discussed his management of the meeting, when Carlin was diabetes in motor sport. given special dispensation to run The FIA presented the latest anti- a fourth car. doping case studies alongside an Monger qualified in fifth just annual update from Medical 0.548s off the pole time on Commission member Dr Paul Trafford. Saturday, then during the race In its third year attending, the Race capitalised on contact between Track Safety Programme did a Billy Monger scored a podium on Clement Novalak and Krish presentation on the most efficient his return to racing at the Mahadik to settle into third place. and safest procedures for responding opening round of the British He then fended off 2017 Ginetta to track incidents. There were also Formula 3 championship. Junior Champion Tom Gamble to practical training sessions, which It is the first time the 18 year- take the final podium place. included extraction procedures and old has raced competitively since Following his accident last year, ‘live’ fire suppression with the latest his accident in British Formula 4 Monger received nearly £850,000 materials and tools. last year in April at Donington to go towards his rehabilitation A Scientific Session covered a Park, which led to the amputation through crowdfunding. Although number of topics, including recent of both his legs. he has only committed to the research in driver physiology; After the FIA approved a new opening round of this year’s discussions of concussion caused by rule during the winter that British F3 championship, Monger AMR takes over from improper design of driver enables disabled drivers to hopes to compete in the Holmatro as sponsor of compartment safety devices; and an compete in international single- remainder of the season. the IndyCar Safety Team in-depth review of situational sensitivity and crisis management in motor sport. In addition there were lectures from Dr David Ferguson on NEW DEPUTY INDYCAR AGREES DEAL WITH AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSE the physical response to driving a race car, and Dr Julia Daly on PRESIDENT APPOINTED The IndyCar safety team has agreed Rescue Tool provider for the Horne, AMR president and CEO. concussion considerations when a deal with emergency medical championship, having agreed a "With our focus on safety and returning to competitive racing. transport provider American contract for the next five years. experience providing onsite medical Dino Altmann, MD, has been charge of the Brazilian Stock Medical Response (AMR) to sponsor The safety team plays a key role responses at numerous sports appointed Deputy President of Car Championship and of the the championship’s safety team. in ensuring that drivers are safely venues, there is a natural fit for us the FIA Medical Commission. Brazilian Porsche GT3 Cup. As part of the multi-year deal recovered from incidents on track. to sponsor the safety team.” Altmann is a surgical In addition to his role with from 2018, AMR will take over from The dedicated team of 30 that AMR provides medical support oncologist, who has worked as the FIA Medical Commission, Holmatro as safety team sponsor attends each race weekend has an for thousands of events across the an Emergency Physician in Altmann has joined the and provide ambulances to average of 20 years experience in US. AMR also becomes the official motor sport since 1990. He is editorial board of AUTO+ Indianapolis Motor Speedway, their respective areas. ambulance provider at IMS for the Chief Medical Officer of the Medical, the FIA’s international alongside emergency and non- "The IndyCar Safety Team has a IndyCar Grand Prix, the Indianapolis Brazilian Grand Prix and also journal of motor sport emergency ground medical world-renowned history of setting 500 presented by PennGrade Motor the Emergency Physician in medicine. transportation services. the standard for emergency services Oil and the Big Machine Vodka 400 Holmatro will continue as Official in ," said Ted Van at the Brickyard.

6 7 AUTO+MEDICAL GLOBAL NEWS AUTO+MEDICAL GLOBAL NEWS

BOTTAS USES EYE SILVEIRA CAMARGO LEAVES DRIVERS CALL FOR FIA AFTER 15 YEARS DOCTOR TO STAY SHARP BETTER SAFETY AT Sandra Silveira Camargo has moved on from BATHURST the FIA after 15 years with the organization. Mercedes F1 driver Valtteri Bottas believes it is of even more benefit She started working for the FIA in March has been working with an eye in a sport like F1. 2003 and worked her way up to become doctor to sharpen his hand-eye “If you make a mistake in F1 it is Head of Medical Affairs. coordination before each race. a lot more crucial than in, for She said: “Leaving the FIA is anything but Sport scientist Dr Sherylle instance, a rugby game,” said simple. Not a day has passed without my Calder, who specialises in eye- Calder speaking recently to CNN. enjoying going to work. I have spent here extraordinary years and I hand, -foot and -body “We warm up the rest of the body, have met extraordinary people. coordination, has done track but about 80 to 90 per-cent of the “Working in an environment where most stakeholders are 'TRAINING THE walks with Bottas to help him best information that you base a passionate about what they do is a real privilege. I had the chance TRAINERS’ AT LE MANS prepare for a race weekend. decision on comes from the eyes.” to know many of you who are reading this magazine, and I am She has also created a tailored Her work with Bottas is not grateful that you shared with me your enthusiasm for motorsport. The FIA has hosted an event at the version of an app called EyeGym, necessarily sight-related, but is Drivers have called for increased “The time has come for me to take a new path and head on new Le Mans racing circuit to train leading which helps athletes see better based on improving the visual safety at the Mount Panorama challenges. It will be hard to find such a motivating environment Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) to become and anticipate quicker, to keep motor system and decision-making. circuit, after a heavy crash at the 12 as motorsport, but I will do my best. I will keep precious memories trainers in their own regions. the driver sharp. “We make sure he’s ready to hours of Bathurst this year. of my years at the FIA. Thank you for helping to make them so Seven experts were invited to the Objects will jump up and down perform by getting the visual The crash, involving drivers Ash stimulating. I wish you all lots of exciting races ahead and great training session, with representatives across a screen, testing the system fit and ready to respond Walsh and John Martin, caused the personal achievements.” from Turkey, Hungary, Mexico, Canada, reactions of the user, their to anything happening around him.” race to be stopped and the result to Singapore, Bahrain and Brazil. memory and spatial awareness. Previously, Dr Calder has be declared early. The training was conducted by FIA Rugby Union players, for instance, worked with a number of leading Walsh’s Audi was sat broadside to Medical Delegates and Medical Affairs have been using the tool to better sports teams and players, the circuit having made contact with staff, with additional presentations train their eyes when attempting including the All Blacks rugby FIA MEDICAL COMMISSION MEMBERS a barrier before Martin arrived in his made by some of the participants. They to catch a high ball. But Calder team and golfer Ernie Els. Mercedes-AMG GT3 at almost full TO RETIRE AFTER OUTSTANDING SAFETY were invited to the seminar to become speed. Though Martin tried to swerve CONTRIBUTIONS FIA trainers of future CMOs and Deputy left to avoid the Audi, he made heavy CMOs in their regions. contact which saw him momentarily “This training is a significant step lose consciousness. Three members of the FIA’s recently taking up the role of forward in increasing the quality and The pair were taken to the circuit Medical Commission will be honorary vice president at the professionalism of the medical cover of medical centre and Walsh was then retiring as part of the new age circuit alongside his FIA duties the FIA World Championships,” said transferred to Bathurst Hospital for limit rule announced at as special medical delegate. Professor Gérard Saillant, FIA Medical further checks. December’s FIA General He was responsible for Commission President. “The aim is to “I can’t believe we haven’t learnt Assembly. introducing extrication teams accredit one CMO from each region after previous situations there,” said Professor Hugh Scully, and the Kendrick Extraction who will then be entitled to train all of Will Davison, 2006 and 2016 Bathurst Dr Jean-Jacques Issermann, Device (or K.E.D.) which helps the new CMOs to the highest standards.” 1000 winner on Twitter. “Such a scary and Dr Robert Scarlot will be drivers when they are placed on To help with this, the FIA is situation for both parties. Needs to retiring from the Commission, a stretcher and taken away for a developing a toolkit to aid training of be improved immediately.” having made some outstanding medical examination. future medical representatives at Martin, who has twice raced in contributions to the FIA in its Dr Robert Scarlot has been a motor sport events across the world. LMP2 at Le Mans, believes in-car quest to make motor sport key member in developing the The Le Mans training event, which marshal warning systems used in the safer for competitors. driver extrication process and took place on Friday 26 January, was World Endurance Championship Professor Hugh Scully has is one of the Vice Presidents for followed by a two day extrication could help when approaching been in motor sport medicine the Automobile Club De Monaco. seminar hosted by the Fédération unsighted areas. since 1968 when he was Medical Despite retiring from the Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) “I think all that sort of stuff like in Director for the Canadian Grand Medical Commission, all and led by extrication expert WEC would be nice, if they Prix at Mosport and subsequently remain active in motor sport. Dr Jean-Jacques Issermann. implemented that into these sort of Montreal. An age limit of 75 has been In all, 20 extrication teams were Around 80 to 90 per- cars,” Martin told the SpeedCafe Dr Jean-Jacques Issermann placed on all members of FIA trained from countries across Europe cent of decisions website. “In places like that where has been involved with the Le commissions from this year and each team gained practical come from the eyes you can’t see, you rely on every little Mans circuit since 1950, most onwards. experience on a number of race cars, bit of information that you get for including four fitted with the new Halo any sort of warning.” head protection device.

8 9 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

FEATURES RACING ENABLED Innovative technologies and a new FIA commission are breaking down the barriers to entry for disabled drivers to compete at the top level of motor sport

10 11 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

Five and a half hours into the 2016 Le Mans The FIA Disability and Accessibility Soon after being discharged from hospital McGloin races in 24 hours race, the cameras cut to the garages Commission is focused on improving she was determined to remain active and the Porsche Club to show the rather unusual sight of a driver accessibility for all in motor sport and took up wheelchair rugby as a hobby, Championship being hoisted into his car with the assistance ensuring that people with disabilities can eventually going on to play for Great Britain. in the UK of his mechanics. compete fairly and safely. It was one of her teammates who introduced The man in question was Frédéric Sausset Nathalie McGloin, a paraplegic driver who her to racing with a track day at Bedford and he was about to make history by races in the Porsche Club Championship in Autodrome. becoming the first quadruple amputee to the UK, has been named as the Commission’s “I fell in love with the concept of driving compete in the iconic race. Not only did first president and is aiming to remove the your car at any speed that was safe, or any Sausset manage to finish the race, with the barriers faced by disabled drivers in their speed that you dare around a racing circuit,” help of teammates Christophe Tinseau and bid to compete. “The FIA overall has been says McGloin, “I then took it up as a rather Jean-Bernard Bouvet, but he also had the very aware and on top of the need to set expensive hobby outside of my rugby training privilege to be on the podium in front of tens standards for disabled drivers competing in and it just kind of blossomed from there really.” of thousands of fans. motor sport,” says McGloin. As McGloin started to take the sport more It demonstrated one of the unique aspects Motor sport has become a major passion in seriously she was soon faced with the UK’s of motor racing – it is the only sport in the McGloin’s life after she was severely injured Association of Racing Drivers Schools test world where disabled athletes compete on in a road accident in 1999 when studying for (or ARDS test) to gain a competitive racing the same playing field as all others. Sausset is her A-Levels. She was a passenger in the car licence. She had to pass all of the same THE MAIN CHALLENGE now a member of a new FIA commission that of a friend when the driver lost control and parameters as other drivers but in addition FOR ME WAS GETTING MY HEAD aims to encourage more disabled racers to collided with a tree. She spent a year in hospital she had to complete four hill-climb or sprint “AROUND WHETHER I COULD do just that. and suffered paralysis from the chest down. events and demonstrate she could exit a car ACTUALLY GET OUT OF A RACING within seven seconds unaided. “The main challenge for me was getting my CAR IN SEVEN SECONDS Sausset is the first quadruple amputee to head around whether I could actually get out compete at Le Mans ” of a racing car with a cage, racing seats, a (six- point) belt and driving position within seven to race,” said Speakman to ourridelife.com. seconds considering I’m paralysed from the “Then in 2011 when I did get the license it was chest down. The hill-climb and sprint events frustrating trying to get a drive and I actually were fun to do, but time-consuming and costly.” lost a year waiting for the other series One of the first changes McGloin hopes to organizers to get back to me. So to prove my achieve in the commission is to standardise point I took a 1975 Toyota Celica rally car, the test worldwide and ensure the converted it into a circuit racer, and in 2012 requirements are not a barrier to entry. won the Queensland Improved Production Matt Speakman is another disabled Championship. This performance is what led driver who races in Porsche Carrera Cup to Porsche taking me seriously.” Australia, and he endured similar challenges At the moment the FIA has a standard but when obtaining his licence to race from the not all championships in individual countries Confederation of Australian Motorsport. are FIA-certified at club level, as they are “The hardest thing was actually obtaining governed by National Sporting Authorities a license from CAMS to compete in circuit (ASNs) such as the UK’s Motor Sports racing as I am the first paraplegic in Australia Association.

12 13 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

system, which he would attach to his artificial clutch-less car, so the car changes the gears carbon arm and allows the seat to link to the for me. I have a radial control, which allows accelerator and brake by a crosspiece that me to operate the brakes and accelerator. brings the pedals up to his leg stumps. “It’s not anything that’s wired into the car, “The engineers, technicians and mechanics it’s just a simple mechanic system. Almost like on my crew did everything they could to an extension of the brake and the accelerator refine my suggestions and put my ideas into into one pedal that sits nicely by the steering practice.” wheel. I push forward on the leaver towards McGloin uses similar methods to work the dashboard to operate the brake, and I around her paralysis, most notably the use push down towards the feet to operate the of a ‘radial control’, which helps with the accelerator.” transition between operating the brakes and Speakman uses a similar system in his accelerator. specially modified Porsche Carrera Cup car, “Because my fingers are affected by my however the brake is on a handle rather than paralysis I don’t have the dexterity to use the combined with the accelerator. This handle paddle shift system,” she says. “I race a PDK pivots off the steering column and connects Cayman, which is a double-clutch gearbox, to the original brake peddle. This type of technology is now making its way over to single seaters. British driver Billy Monger, who had both legs amputated after an accident in an F3 race at in April, is leading the way. With support from the Motor Sports Association, Monger managed to successfully “If we can set up a model that we can pass change an FIA rule that had previously down to ASNs to implement in their own WE NEED TO ENSURE prevented disabled drivers from competing countries, that would be a big bonus and in international single-seater categories. one of the missions of the commission,” says ABSOLUTE PARITY WHEREBY THE The adapted throttle and The 18-year-old then tested an adapted “ brake attached to the McGloin. “We have the responsibility to make TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO steering wheel British Formula 3 car at as he sure that the ASNs have the knowledge to COMPETE ON THE SAME LEVEL continues his comeback. conduct their tests in a safe but fair way.” McGloin speaking Despite the development of technology to ” at the FIA Sport help disabled drivers, McGloin is determined TECH SUPPORT FIA. “I can’t bear coming up against a problem Conference in Geneva not to let it go too far as it would be A major factor for the recent emergence I can’t solve. Nothing could be simpler than detrimental to create an uneven playing field. of disabled racers in top-level racing is the the things I ‘invented’ like extensions for the “Recently, a Paralympian long-jumper development of technology. Many of the pedals. I didn’t know if it would work, but it showed he could jump much further than an solutions that Sausset came up with for his seemed the simplest solution to come up able-bodied athlete because of the spring in Garage 56 entry to Le Mans were innovative with; the ‘ejector seat’ so that I could get out the technology of the artificial limb,” she said. in this field. of the car in an emergency, the connecting “In motor sport we need to ensure absolute “My handicap forced me to think, to come rod instead of the steering wheel.” parity whereby the technology in the car allows up with solutions,” Sausset recently told the The connecting rod is part of the steering us to compete but always on the same level.”

14 15 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

The commission hopes to improve a liberating experience for someone in a the opportunities wheelchair. Now she wants as many other for disabled racers IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME disabled people to experience that feeling as worldwide “BEFORE WE HAVE SOMEONE possible. WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WHO IS “The whole beauty of why I fell in love with DISABLED motor sport is that I was on the same level as everybody else when I was out on the circuit. ” The only difference that I had compared to people that this is a sport for you, this is the able-bodied participants was that when something that is possible. It’s only a matter we got back into the pit lane I would get into of time before we have someone win a a wheelchair and push myself into the café championship with a disability, and I for one whilst they would walk in. can’t wait for that day.” "I think that’s why I loved it so much, that The reason McGloin embraced the sport kind of parity as able-bodied people being is that once she was in the car, she was able to do exactly the same thing at exactly just the same as everybody else which was the same time.”

As such, the commission aims to make the F3 grid,” says McGloin. “It’s an exciting sure that any adaptations made to cars time for the sport, especially in terms of a for disabled drivers are facilitating them to young driver who is really able to show what’s compete in a different way, rather than giving possible, and I think with the support of the away any sort of advantage over able-bodied FIA we will get it right so that it is fair, it is competitors. safe, and it works.” McGloin’s aim is to help improve CHAMPIONS OF THE CAUSE opportunites for disabled racers worldwide, McGloin hopes that with the influx of disabled and if this can bring more of them into the drivers into the sport it will not be long before sport and they become successful then it will McGloin competing in we see race winners and champions. have a snowball effect the Porsche Club race “I think that Billy (Monger) has got a strong “I think the more we have disabled people at Silverstone chance of doing really well, and I would love competing in motor sport and doing well, the nothing more than to see him champion of more it’s going to advertise to other disabled

16 17 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES HEADS OF PERFORMANCE

Ford Motor Company and King’s College London are exploring the brain as the next frontier of performance in motor sport.

There are 86 million nerve cells within the brain that keep a human being ticking. Every decision and every movement, right or wrong, starts with the brain and dictates our next steps, leaving it susceptible to blame when things don’t go to plan, especially behind the wheel. But the brain remains a relatively untapped basis of research with regards to driver performance. This is why Ford Performance has joined forces with doctors at King’s College London and production studio UNIT9 to investigate the effects of driving high- performance race cars on the minds of professional racing drivers. The hypothesis for ‘The Psychology of Performance’ study was that a better understanding of a driver’s mental capacity could lead to findings in how to better perform and cope in other challenging real-life situations. In collaboration with media technology company OATH and media agency network Mindshare, UNIT9 and King’s College London developed a top-of-the-range brain scanner to study the brain performance of a number of Ford’s best drivers, including five- time World Rally champion Sébastien Ogier and three-time World Touring Car champion .

18 19 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

frequency level during the off-season [in need to do is take this study to the race track A professional driver's The study reiterated racing drivers’ ability to 1997/1998]. The following season I won every and simulate it under pressure during a race brain performs up to use the maximum capacity of their brain to aid race from pole. I’m just glad a lot of my weekend, and then have a level of data over 40 per-cent better than an average person's performance on track, and discovered that competitors over the years haven’t studied it the whole year to see when the mistakes came enforcing mental training techniques can as much as me because that’s what’s given me and why, when the laps came that were good, enable all drivers to focus on the task at hand a very successful career. It definitely provides when the laps came that weren’t so good, and and ‘live in the moment’ – beneficial when some opportunities for better performances.” then maybe we can start understanding a little faced with making split-second decisions at Despite each mental preparation exercise bit more about the process.” breakneck speeds in modern motor sport. providing some form of benefit to a driver’s The findings from the experiment were concentration and focus, it remains an area of NEXT STEPS surprisingly conclusive and informative with research that needs further testing to discover Ogier is convinced that this type of brain regards to what it is that makes a racing the best practices and how to apply them on analysis can play a greater role in aiding driver driver’s brain different, according to the track. performance in motor sport. “I think the brain Dr Elias Mouchlianitis, Neuroscience “I think the hardest thing with this situation is still something that is not really well known Researcher at King’s College London. is finding the right process to achieve that and which there is not a really good “The first thing that surprised me in the focus on a regular basis, and that’s an area understanding of, so there is still a lot of work findings was that we could actually see what that I’m very interested in,” said Priaulx. “We to do on this subject,” he says. “For me it was makes the brain of a driver more efficient, and know that meditation, creative thinking, and just an initiation and it would be interesting to actually what it is that makes them better at everything about it attracts a more distinctive work a bit deeper into that because I was just driving. We could see that they are ‘always on’ level of driving – a higher level – but what we a subject for the research but I didn’t really - it doesn’t matter if it’s an easy turn, a difficult turn or a straight, they don’t get distracted by The experiment started with data recorded external stimuli compared to normal people, from 12 of Ford’s professional drivers, whose brain on an easy part of the track would including Ogier and Priaulx, as well as the be more distracted. I was quite surprised and minds of 36 everyday people driving in a quite happy to see that we managed to find the virtual reality simulator using an brain signature to what potentially might be electroencephalography (EEG) brain scanner. one of the cognitive processes that makes The device was fitted with electrodes that someone an exceptional driver.” connect to the skull and read the electrical signals from the brain. The initial tests MIND OVER MATTER demonstrated how professional drivers’ brains Understanding how the brain works requires perform up to 40 per-cent better than an practice and patience. Working out how to get average person’s. The everyday drivers were the best out of yourself mentally requires then encouraged to mentally prepare for the training but when done correctly, can be racing simulator using breathing exercises, invaluable on the track. An advocate of the meditation and a visualisation technique to practice is Priaulx, who has applied help describe the track ahead. This mental mindfulness and meditation techniques for preparation helped the subjects’ focus and over 17 years. Drivers believe that analys- performance improve by as much as 50 per- “I went and studied Silva Mind Method ing this data can play a key cent compared to a control group who were (meditation method), and learnt how to role in aiding performance omitted from the exercises. meditate and problem-solve at the alpha brain

20 21 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

steps into understanding how brain activity For Dr Mouchlianitis, the application of can impact driver performance lie with the mental preparation techniques both in motor development of an EEG-enabled racing sport and real-life situations is where future helmet. investigation lies, with plans in place for The helmet would be capable of scanning further research into brain performance using and transmitting electrical signals from a EEG. “Being able to actually measure what the driver’s brain with the aim of one day aligning brain does while someone is driving I think the analysis alongside driver metrics already will be very exciting to see, and I think for measured by teams, such as hydration and racing teams, very valuable. But I’m very heart rate. Work on the helmet began interested in finding possible interventions following the conclusion of The Psychology of with how someone can improve their focus Performance study, and is currently in its and attention and have translatable prototype stage of development. improvements in everyday tasks.”

BRAIN TRAINING work to improve myself. I’m convinced that The FIA has registered its own interest in reality driving simulator reproducing analysing brain performance courtesy of real-life driving conditions as well as sooner or later we’ll see this having a bigger THE HARDEST THING WITH part in racing.” a recently-announced partnership with difficulties and obstacles drivers often Ogier also believes this research can help “THIS IS FINDING THE RIGHT bio-informatics and technology faced on the road. with injury, such as concussion. He was in a PROCESS TO ACHIEVE FOCUS company, EMOTIV. Revealed by FIA The partnership is the latest distracted high-impact accident at last ON A REGULAR BASIS President Jean Todt and EMOTIV CEO driver campaign launched to improve season and was surprised at the lack of Tan Le at the 2018 World Economic global road safety. Research carried out information about concussion injuries. ” Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, by the UK’s Department of Transport “I discovered that medicine still doesn’t mindfulness, and others are more responsive Switzerland, the project shows how found that one in six drivers observed control perfectly or is not really able to analyze to breathing, so they’re quite variable. I think if neurosciences and brain sensing by academics were found to be engaged exactly what happens in the brain when you one wants to improve their performance using technologies can provide valuable in a distracting activity, such as talking have an accident. For sure if the research gets these techniques, one should explore different information and measures on the on a phone or smoking. The study found better we’ll be able to control more precisely, techniques to find out what suits them best driver’s fluctuation of attention at the younger drivers were more likely to be for example how long you need to rest after and then apply them in real life.” wheel and help develop more efficient engaged in distracting activities. an impact and what is important to do if you He believes this approach would be useful to technological innovations to improve In Australia, research into driver are part of this kind of accident.” anyone focussing on a complex task. road safety. distractions has lead to campaigns such Dr Mouchlianitis agrees that further “It doesn’t matter whether you are a skilled During the partnership’s first official as Transport for New South Wales’ ‘Get research is required, however adds that the driver, a writer, a mathematician, a scientist, or demonstration, 2016 Formula One world Your Hand Off It’ campaign. Launched in best mental preparation comes down to whether you’re working on a forklift; your champion Nico Rosberg’s brainwaves 2016, the campaign was set up to personal preference, both in motor sport and ability to be in the zone and focus on what you were recorded and monitored thanks to combat the correlation between using a in real life situations. are doing is a key factor in achieving a high EMOTIV’s portable neuroinformatics mobile phone behind the wheel and “All of these techniques are highly personal; quality performance.” solutions while using an FIA virtual road incidents. some people are more responsive to Based on the results of the study, Ford’s next

22 23 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES INSIDE THE RESCUE VEHICLE AUTO+ Medical takes a look at the new safety team truck for the British Touring Car Championship

The British Touring Car Championship has one of its type in Europe. Following similar represents an investment of nearly £200,000 for many years and has enormous experience unveiled its all-new state-of-the-art ‘TOCA concepts to those used in IndyCar and by TOCA and its partners, underlining our and expertise, being recently involved in the Safety Team’ truck ahead of the 2018 season. NASCAR in the United States, the truck will be real and ongoing commitment to the very Billy Monger rescue and the Croft multi-car The brand new Ford F250, specially manned with a dedicated and fully trained highest level of safety, rescue and recovery accident in 2017." imported from the USA for sole use at TOCA TOCA safety crew and paramedic. in British motor sport. TOCA Medical Director, Dr Paul Trafford, events, is equipped with the latest rescue and Martin Hunt is the permanent Safety Team “This state-of-the-art rescue vehicle carries said: “TOCA has always supported the safety cutting equipment. Crew Chief of the vehicle, whilst TOCA the very latest in cutting and rescue initiatives we have made over the years and The truck will be deployed to any incident Medical Director, Dr Paul Trafford, will equipment and, most importantly, will be the ‘TOCA Safety Team’ rescue truck is going where needed, across all BTCC sessions and oversee all operations. manned by the same dedicated crew at all to make a huge difference to our ability to those24 of its supporting series’, and is the only BTCC Series Director, Alan Gow, said: “It events. Our team has worked with the BTCC respond to any serious incidents." 25 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

1 KED FLATBED FEATURES 2 Holmatro V-Strut stabilisation The truck has a flat bed, like a pick-up which has pull out struts sections to access the equipment. Holmatro is supplying its 3 Head immobilization blocks latest state-of-the-art cutting tools and will continually update 4 2 AFFF Fire extinguishers them as further new tools and technology are developed. MacTools and its sister company DeWalt, global leaders in 5 Vacuum Extrication Vest, their own fields, are also providing a full range of battery- 22 10 litres of frash water powered equipment and other essential tools. 6 Foam kneeling pads, 2 cotton cellular blankets 1 7 Scoop stretcher and Paediatric 3 spinal board (for use in single- seater extractions) 4 8 Tool boxes containing MAC 2 21 Tools hand tools and 2 DeWalt 54v Angle Grinders 9 Tool boxes containing DeWalt Inspection Camera, Multi-tool 7 (Helmet Saw), Drill and Impact 5 20 Wrench 6 10 Holmatro SPU 16 BC 19 Battery Pump 8 17 11 Holmatro self-contained battery 13 18 Combi Tool GCT 5111 Evo 3 12 Holmatro CORE hose 9 13 Holmatro sharp edge 12 15 16 protection set 14 Holmatro CU 5040 i CL 14 Inclined Cutter 15 Holmatro SP 5240 CL Spreader 10 16 Holmatro TR 5340 LP & TR 5370 LP Hydraulic rams 17 2 DeWalt 54v Reciprocating saws 11 18 Holmatro HMC 8 U Pedal cutter 19 Tarpaulins, various towing and stabilizing straps 20 Holmatro Tool Station, Hi-Lift First Responder Jack 21 Extrication, self-heating and insulating blankets 22 RDT Tempus Pro & Tempus LS, Suction unit and medical bag (inside cab)

26 27 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

THE ROAD BACK: PETTER SOLBERG The World star reveals how he returned to the track less than two weeks after having surgery on a broken collar bone following heavy crash

During the Latvia round of the 2017 AUTO+ Medical: What happened during World Rallycross Championship, reigning your crash in the 2017 Latvia RX round? champion Petter Solberg suffered a Petter Solberg: Coming into the first corner heavy crash with fellow competitor Janis Loeb touched me a little bit on the back end Baumanis at the Bikernieki track’s and I got sideways on the way into the next second corner. The collision saw corner, and the other driver [Baumanis] Baumanis hit the left-rear of the Swedish touched me in the back corner and smashed driver’s Volkswagen Polo GTI RX, sending me around. It just happened so quickly – it him into a spin and out of the race. felt like I was on a roulette wheel. And then I Solberg suffered a broken collarbone, just felt a massive amount of pain; that two fractured ribs and a bruised lung in feeling straight away was quite special. the incident. The 43-year-old underwent surgery to repair the collarbone and A+M: Did you know immediately that you remarkably returned to the wheel of his were hurt? WRX car at the next round of the season PS: Yes for sure. I was screaming like hell, at the Estering, Germany, just two weeks and then I understood that it was something later, enabling him to pick up enough with the shoulder, with the collarbone and points to finish third in the final also down to my back, and that was championship standings. He spoke to obviously the two ribs. The collarbone was AUTO+ Medical about the incident and 4cm over each other on the picture [x-ray]. his recovery. The pain to get out of the car was tremendous – it’s hard to explain. As soon as they touched me to lift me out of the car or remove my helmet the pain went straight into the collarbone. It was almost at the point Solberg had to wear a Kevlar where they had to cut the roof for me to get piece for his shoulder to stop out and I was thinking: ‘bloody hell, they can’t further damage

28 29 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

experience of working in speedway, where PS: I woke up on Tuesday morning [after the collarbone injuries are common. Then I had an operation] and I had a motorhome outside operation one week after [the crash], putting in the hospital to jump straight into and lie the plates and bolts and everything into the down and drive straight over to Germany, so collarbone. I didn’t have to move around so much. At the end of the treatment I had a machine with A+M: How did you manage your recovery me to use on the shoulders and the ribs to process following the operation? heal it faster. It was an infrared system to get the blood circulation going. I got moulded a Kevlar piece for my I COULDN'T STAND ON MY shoulder and padding so I could put it on the FEET PROPERLY BECAUSE OF seatbelt for the next race so nothing “THE PAIN. I THINK IT'S THE happened basically to damage the collarbone. But the treatment was just to take the WORST EVER ACCIDENT THAT I motorhome [to Germany], relax and take the HAVE HAD IN MY CAREER tablets that I was allowed to take because of ” the anti-doping regulations.

Two weeks after his operation Solberg was back for the final round in Germany

do that', and then I just came out, I couldn’t [hospital staff] didn’t know exactly what stand on my feet properly because of the pain. happened to me so they were just throwing me I think it’s the worst ever accident I have had in from bench to bench. all my career. So I took a private plane back home straight to the hospital in Sweden and I had three doctors A+M: What treatment did you receive around me. Two had said ‘no, you can’t drive, it’s immediately after the accident? impossible with your ribs, lung and collarbone’, PS: Well, first of all the Latvian hospital was not but another said ‘well maybe it’s possible’. I Despite the Kevlar brace, very good. The guy who helped me the most brought that doctor with me [to Germany] Solberg broke another rib during a heat race in Germany was the FIA doctor Jean Duby, but he couldn’t because he was positive – his name is come into the hospital to speak English, and they Dr Klas-Göran Gravander, and he has a lot of

30 31 AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES AUTO+MEDICAL FEATURES

I didn’t take anything else other than Solberg finished third paracetamol every eight hours, because I overall in 2017 thanks to I WAS REALLY TIRED know when I came into Germany if I drive, I his swift recovery BETWEEN EVERY HEAT; I'D could be randomly dope tested, so we were “ very careful exactly with everything that I did GO STRAIGHT TO BED, SLEEP, both from the doctor’s side and my own RELAX, AND THEN GO OUT IN side, so everything was correct to rules. THE CAR AGAIN A+M: You made your return to the car at ” the World RX round at the Estering, of mistakes because of the pain and the Germany, just two weeks after the initial tiredness, so even after being first into the accident. How did you feel when you first first corner, I was pushed a little bit by got back in the car? [Mattias] Ekström and then I came out in PS: Well, it was only pain. First of all I had to fourth. But at the end of the day that gave show the FIA guys that I could go in and out me the [third place] medal for the from the car to show that it was no problem championship. before the race. So they came for the inspection, it was very professional in how they A+M: What advice would you give to did it and I think it was the right thing to do. drivers suffering similar injuries in the I was a little bit scared to be hit in the back future? into the first corner, so I tried to avoid any PS: I think the only thing is that you need fights or anything at all. I was really tired good people around you who are between every heat; I’d go straight to bed, perfectionists, and doctors who understand sleep, relax, and then go out in the car that you have to drive, and then to have the again. I didn’t do any interviews or anything, right people around you to believe in what I just tried to get through that race as quick you’re doing. So many people told me not to as possible. Tiredness and fatigue were a do it, but it’s all up to you and how much pain factor in Solberg's comeback you can handle without doing anything with A+M: You broke another rib in your first bad medicine to hide it. That 14 days are heat in Germany, how did that happen? going into the memory book for myself. It’s PS: Yes, because one was cracked and then I more a test of how much do you want to do broke it completely because I hit a gravel things, and you see that everything is bank, so it was moving like hell. We taped possible if you want to. the whole stomach, all around my back and everything to try and get the support, but it A+M: What feedback do you have for the didn’t help with that, and then I just paramedics and doctors who treated you continued driving again. I still won that heat, Despite his injuries, Solberg throughout the recovery process? and the whole thing ended up like a crazy was still the fastest qualifier PS: I am so happy with them. Everything story because I was the fastest qualifier of the weekend works perfectly. My arm is perfect from the after four heats. collarbone, and my ribs are perfect. I still Before the final I was so tired, so I did a lot have something with the lung, but we’ve been treating it so I’m sure it’ll be ok. 32 33 AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE SCIENCE TOYOTA’S SPINAL INJURY RESEARCH USING HUMAN SIMULATION SOFTWARE

With the use of simulation and sophisticated Finite Element models, Toyota and the FIA are analysing crashes to better understand spinal injuries and what could be done to prevent them.

Toyota's Total Human Model By Peter Wright For Safety (THUMS) has President, FIA Safety Commission been used to improve driver positioning in sports cars This article has been republished with permission from Racecar Engineering

35 AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE

Less than five hours into the 2012 Le Mans work carried out by TMC in this cooperation 24hr race, Anthony Davidson’s Toyota TS030 (SAE Paper: 2017-01-1432: Analysis of Driver Davidson sat out the remainder of the hybrid LMP1 car attempted to overtake one Kinematics and Lower Thoracic Spine Injury in WEC season of the AF Corse Ferrari 458s, but collided with World Endurance Championship Race Cars after the crash the rear left suspension. The Toyota slewed during Frontal Impacts. Authors: Tadasuke sideways and took off. After a combined Katsuhara, Yoshiki Takahira, Shigeki Hayashi, end-over-end roll, the car landed and slid Yuichi Kitagawa, Tsuyoshi Yasuki). head-on into the tyre barriers. Davidson Over 6,500 spinal injuries occur in car extracted himself, but only made it onto the crashes annually in the United States, side pod before realising he had injured his according to the National Spinal Cord Injury spine, and decided not to move further. It Statistical Center (NSCISC), and a tendency for transpired that he had crushed vertebrae T11 these to occur in frontal impacts is reported. In and T12, just above the interface between the motor sport the overall injury rate is much thoracic and lumbar sections of the spine. lower, but Dr Terry Trammell et al have While it was not clear which of the series of reported that in IndyCar, a high proportion of impacts had caused the damage, the vertical injuries are spinal injuries, particularly in landing or the frontal impact, the FIA was frontal and rear impacts into the relatively stiff already alerted to a problem in LMP cars by walls around high-speed ovals. the Guillaume Moreau head-on crash in an With the difficulties experienced when using LMP2 car, at the Le Mans Test the same year. dummies for spinal injury research, driver He too had injured his T12 vertebra in a kinematic models such as MADYMO have been THUMS Version 4 was employed in the WEC Table: 1. Comparison between Driver A, Driver B, and 50% THUMS human model. purely frontal impact. employed in simulations. While useful in research, scaled to driver size and Spinal injuries are very difficult to research studying the kinematics and loadings they do incorporated into an FE model of the cockpit, using anthropomorphic dummies (Hybrid III not possess the detail necessary to evaluate including: THUMS Driver A Driver B and THOR) and Hi-Ge sleds, as the dummies the stresses and strains on individual bones or • Seat and head surround Version 4 were not developed for such research and organs that allow injury severity to be • Harness AM50 the representation of the spine is not assessed. TMC has created the industry • Helmet Height [cm] 177 160 185 particularly biofidelic; the rigid mechanism standard FE model of the human body, • HANS Weight [kg] 74 55 80 used prevents flexure other than for THUMS, in a joint development between • Steering wheel adjusting seating posture. Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc. and Toyota • Pedals In the initial study, a number of The FIA, through the FIA Institute, Motor Corporation, over a period of more than The total number of elements in the model deceleration pulses were evaluated, approached the Toyota Motor Company 20 years. THUMS is used widely by the was 2.2 million. combining vertical and longitudinal (TMC) via its motor sport arm in Cologne, automobile industry in its many versions. As LMP1 cars employ two or three drivers components. For the work covered by the seeking cooperation to research the cause of for each event, a small and a large driver SAE paper, the SFI Specification 38.1 pulse is spinal injuries in frontal impacts, using TMC’s IN INDYCAR, A HIGH were modeled, along with their seat used, peaking at 70g longitudinal sophisticated Finite Element (FE) model of the PROPORTION OF INJURIES mouldings. The seating positions of the deceleration after around 50ms, this pulse is human body: Total Human Model For Safety “ drivers, and most importantly their initial used as a certification pulse for testing most (THUMS). ARE SPINAL, PARTICULARLY IN spine geometries were established by MRI top-end driver safety equipment, and thus is In early April last year, Toyota presented a FRONTAL AND REAR IMPACT scanning Anthony Davidson and Alex Wurz judged to be survivable without serious paper to the Society of Automotive Engineers INTO STIFF WALLS (Driver A and Driver B), whilst they sat in their injuries, providing the approved equipment is (SAE) World Congress, which describes the ” seats in their correct driving positions. fitted correctly. 36 37 AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE

THUMS can analyse The base parameters for initial runs were: correlated with Davidson’s actual injuries. Of the impact of internal concern were the results for the large driver, organs such as lungs, Table: 2. Cockpit and restraint geometry for which suffered fractures of T11, T12, L1, L2 heart and liver initial runs, Driver A and Driver B. and L3. The simulations graphically showed Case No. 1 2 why these injuries were occurring and the Driver Driver A Driver B mechanisms that caused them. Time histories i) Shoulder belt angle -20 deg -20 deg of the motion of the head chest and pelvis, in ii) Seat back angle 35 deg 35 deg three dimensions, show that there is almost iii) Crotch belt anchor Rearward Rearward no motion for the first 30ms (peak g at 50ms) position and reach their most forward position at iv) Shape of leg hump Decline Decline (40 deg) (40 deg) around 70ms. Maximum excursions for v) Seat pad thickness 60 mm None Driver A in each of the three axes were: vi) Seat pad stiffness 0.3 MPa None Table: 3. Maximum excursion of head, chest and pelvis A single run of the simulation, which lasts The harness, HANS, and seat provide the The main difference between the two of Driver A. around 150ms in real time, takes about 24hrs reacting forces to restrain the body masses. drivers seating positions is the foam seat x-axis y-axis z-axis of computational time. The output of the The forces in the system and how they are insert. With a prescribed eye height and Head 250mm 10mm 110mm model includes the motion of each applied to the body are also input to the pedal position, Davidson had to stretch Chest 150mm 20mm 100mm component of the skeleton and the organs, THUMS model. himself out, by straightening his body and Pelvis 100mm 5mm -25mm the forces and pressures and, particularly raising his backside. relevant to spinal injury, the axial force and The results indicated T11 and 12 fractures The head of Driver B moves forward slightly bending moment of the spine. The cross- on Driver A, giving confidence that they further than Driver A. sectional area and section modulus of the cortical bone of each vertebra were calculated for each of the two drivers, and thus the actual force and bending moment components of the spine stress could be calculated, and finally the spine stress of each individual vertebra. Based on biomechanical research on bone fractures, it was postulated that bone fracture occurred when the ultimate strain of the shell element of the cortical bone exceeded 3%.

OVER 6,500 SPINAL “INJURIES OCCUR IN CAR CRASHES EVERY DAY THUMS version 3 added detailed ACCORDING TO THE NSCISC modelling of ” the brain

38 39 AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE

The pelvis is restrained in the x-direction by the seat ramp and rearward mounted crotch THIS WORK REACHED A belts, the ramp causing the pelvis to rise. The SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION chest moves forward and downward, causing “AND DEEPENED THE the spine to flex, reacting against the relatively unmoving pelvis to add the UNDERSTANDING OF SPINAL compression force. The combined flexure INJURY IN MOTOR SPORT and compression concentrates the stress on the anterior (forward) part of the vertebrae ” around the area of maximum flexure – the interface between the thoracic and lumbar thoracic) it is able to withstand the spines. Forward movement of the shoulders compression without damage. under the shoulder belts creates tension Driver B was susceptible to greater loads in the belts, the resultant of which is a compression and bending loads. The partial downward force almost directly along the reason for this is his greater mass. and compression loads: and reducing the downward component of spine. This creates the compression force The development of countermeasures • Pelvis restraint the shoulder belt loads should reduce the that ultimately does the damage to the lower focused on three key features that it was • Seatback angle likelihood of spinal injury. spine. When the spine is straight (upper considered contributed to the high bending • Shoulder belt geometry A series of cases were developed (Table 4), Allowing the pelvis more forward motion, concentrating on Driver A, but with Driver B reducing the forward motion of the torso, assessed at the end once a solution for Driver

Table: 4: Number of bony fractures and maximum value of T12 stress for all cases.

Case No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Driver Drive A Driver B Driver B Driver B Driver B Driver B Driver B Driver B Driver B Driver A i) Shoulder belt -20 deg -20 deg 0 deg -20 deg 0 deg 0 deg 0 deg 0 deg 0 deg 0 deg angle ii) Seat back 35 deg 35 deg 35 deg 55 deg 35 deg 55 deg 55 deg 55 deg 55 deg 55 deg angle iii) Crotch belt Rearward Rearward Rearward Rearward Rearward Rearward Forward Forward Forward Forward anchor position iv) Shape of leg Decline Decline Decline Decline Decline Flat Flat Decline Decline Decline hump (40 deg) (40 deg) (40 deg) (40 deg) (40 deg) (0 deg) (0 deg) (40 deg) (40 deg) (40 deg) v) Seat pad 60 mm None None None 76.2 mm 76.2 mm 76.2 mm 76.2 mm 76.2 mm 76.2 mm thickness vi) Seat pad 0.3 MPa None None None 0.3 MPa 0.3 MPa 0.3 MPa 0.3 MPa 0.2 MPa 0.2 MPa stiffness Chest deflection 5 % 6 % 6 % 5 % 10 % 12 % 18 % 15 % 16 % 15 % rate Number of spine 2 5 5 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 fracture Pelvis fracture None None None None None Pelvis Pelvis None None None fracture fracture Maximum spine 60.0 MPa 85.6 MPa 77.6 MPa 72.3 MPa 68.7 MPa 68.4 MPa 49.3 MPa 41.4 MPa 40.9 MPa 32.6 MPa stress

40 41 AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE

It is of enormous benefit to motor sport and forces generated by motor sport impacts Changes have been made safety to be able to use this simulation are at the upper limit of survival and generate in the next set of LMP1 regulations in 2020 to model; in return, motor sport provides extreme conditions for the simulation. The allow drivers to sit in a more specific and highly detailed cases of cooperation between TMC and the Global upright position accidents and resulting injuries. The vehicle Institute, which has succeeded the FIA and driver are instrumented, and there is Institute, will continue in order to widen the often video footage of the accident, knowledge of spinal injury causes across all sometimes even high-speed video of the forms of motor sport. driver dynamics. Detailed medical data concerning the injuries is usually available and the driver nearly always cooperates in TOYOTA HAS SPENT TWO any post accident investigation, maybe DECADES DEVELOPING AN involving MRI scans. “INDUSTRY STANDARD FE All combined, these cases present an MODEL OF THE HUMAN BODY opportunity to validate THUMS analysis and will inevitably contribute to the further FOR SAFETY RESEARCH development of THUMS. The accelerations ”

A had been achieved. 2020 for cost-cutting reasons at the behest of The optimum set-up, Cases 9 and 10, with the remaining manufacturers. horizontal shoulder belt mounting; 55° This work reached a satisfactory conclusion seatback angle; forward crotch belt and deepened the understanding of spinal mounting; and the seat ramp retained, but injury mechanisms in motor sport, with a thick, soft cushion to allow movement, particularly in frontal impacts with reclined generated no spine fractures in either Driver seating positions. It’ll be some years before it A or Driver B. can be seen statistically whether the Maximum spine stress was reduced by 32% countermeasures prevent such injuries, but for Driver A and 62% for Driver B. Note that in perhaps the greatest value of such Cases 6 and 7, where the seat ramp has been cooperative work lies outside motorsport, flattened to horizontal, all the restraint of the whilst highlighting how the sport can make a pelvis is provided by the crotch belts, and significant contribution to road car safety. results in fracture of the pelvis. Toyota has spent two decades developing the These modifications to the seating and industry standard for an FE model of the In IndyCar, a high propor- restraint geometry of an LMP1 driver require human body for vehicle safety research; it tion of injuries are spinal raising the roof of a closed car to allow for has been widely adopted by the industry and injuries due to impacts into the relatively stiff walls the more upright seating position. Planned research labs and is replacing the around high-speed ovals. for 2017 as part of a major LMP1 regulation anthropomorphic dummies for R&D, if not package, they have now been delayed to yet certification.

42 43 AUTO+MEDICAL SCIENCE

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Every issue of AUTO+ Medical contains a scientific research paper that looks at the various medical issues that surround motor 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, in the magazine. Canadian Motorsports Response Team)

Dr Matthew Mac Partlin (Assistant Chief Medical Officer, Australian GP)

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

Dr Jean Duby (FIA Medical Delegate, )

Dr Kelvin Chew (Chief Medical Officer, Singapore GP)

Dr Dino Altmann (Deputy President, FIA Medical Commission)

44