INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOTOR SPORT MEDICINE ISSUE#10, APRIL 2017 SCIENCE OF CIRCUIT DESIGN Predictive modelling has become a key tool for modern circuit designers P24 ON SITE AT RALLY SWEDEN Examination of the medical facilities at 2017 Rally Sweden WRC event P32 KAZUKI NAKAJIMA The WEC racer recounts his crash at Spa and rapid recovery from injury P36 GETTING PHYSICAL How F1 drivers have prepared for the increased physical demands of the 2017 cars AUTO+MEDICAL AUTO+MEDICAL Welcome to the new issue of AUTO+Medical, which features the latest news and reports from the world of motor sport medicine. I am delighted as a member of the publication’s editorial board to present this edition. LETTERS/ In our cover story we examine how drivers are P4 The best letters and emails received from readers around the world dealing with the physical demands of the new, faster Formula One cars. The higher G-Forces GLOBAL NEWS/ will certainly test them physically this year and P6 NASCAR appoints official medical team those that trained well in pre-season will reap P7 Earnhardt Jr returns from major concussion the benefits during the season. P7 Dr Brent May named FIA Doctor of the Season P8 Paralympian wins first Keep Fighting Award P9 Pascal Wehrlein misses F1 races after back injury We also speak to Dr Brent May, who has just P10 ICMS 2016 round-up and review helped to deliver the medical provisions and cover for the first race of the 2017 F1 season in FEATURES/ his capacity as Chief Medical Officer for the P12 GETTING PHYSICAL Australian Grand Prix. We also look at how F1 drivers have been working with doctors and trainers to ensure simulation and data analysis programmes have they are physically up for the fight in the 2017 season become key tools for modern circuit designers, P20 CMO PROFILE: DR BRENT MAY espcially when it comes to safety. Australian Grand Prix CMO Dr Brent May on his career, the challenges he faces and improving motor sport medicine P24 PREDICTING THE UNPREDICTABLE In our regular Road Back feature we speak to An examination of the simulation software and data analysis Toyota World Endurance Championship driver programmes used by modern motor sport circuit designers Kazuki Nakajima, who broke a vertebra at a P32 INSIDE RALLY SWEDEN’S MEDICAL OPERATION race in Spa in 2015. He explains how he A complete breakdown of the medical equipment and facilities used returned to compete at Le Mans an astonishing at the 2017 edition of Rally Sweden six weeks later. P36 THE ROAD BACK: KAZUKI NAKAJIMA The Toyota World Endurance Championship driver discusses his high-speed crash at Spa in 2015 and his rapid recovery from injury Our scientific article looks at the on‑scene treatment of spinal injuries in motor sport. STUDY/ P42 ON-SCENE TREATMENT OF SPINAL INJURIES IN MOTOR SPORTS I hope you enjoy the latest issue. A detailed analysis regarding prehospital treatment of spinal injuries, particularly focussed on race car drivers Editor: Marc Cutler Deputy Editor: Alex Kalinauckas Designer: Cara Furman Dr Kelvin Chew We welcome your feedback: [email protected] Chief Medical Officer, Singapore Grand Prix 2 AUTO+MEDICAL LETTERS AUTO+MEDICAL LETTERS experience in motor sport behind them, there is I recommend for anyone involved in medical the opportunity to hear detailed reviews of the care in motor sport to please strongly consider previous two years’ incidents in FIA-organised and attending the next seminar. You will not regret it. other events. You also have a chance to contribute to the discussions to improve safety for the future. Dr Rowley Cottingham MB BS BSc FRCS(Ed) The Summit was invaluable; firstly to keep abreast FRCEM of change, secondly to revise previous knowledge Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Brighton and In this section, we print the best letters and emails received from readers around the and finally to network with colleagues facing the Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust world. We welcome comments on articles as well as suggestions for future content. If same issues as I do in my motor sport practice Medical Director, BodyChillz Ltd you wish to send in a letter or email, please direct it to: [email protected] around the world. Many people contributed to this Honorary Research Fellow, University of Brighton excellent conference but one person who does Honorary Treasurer, BASICS (www.basics.org.uk) deserve praise for the impressive organisation is Dear Editor, there are three speakers per side, a limited the FIA Medical Affairs co‑ordinator, Magali Louis, Editor: Thanks for your comments. The positive In company with many friends and colleagues, time for each speaker’s presentation (which has who made sure everything happened when and feedback is appreciated by all of those involved with I had the pleasure of attending the biennial FIA been previously prepared) and a moderator where it should. Thank you, Magali. the event. Medical Summit at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna in who controls the debate and sums up at its December last year. conclusion. As usual the programme for the Summit was Controversy, evolution and change are a mixed bag of lectures, round table discussions inevitable in medicine and indeed motor sport. and workshops. We all should recognise and embrace that fact Somewhat surprisingly, for what some might and be able to take part in discussions on various describe as a rather dry subject, by far the best topics without fear or favour. workshop was that presented by Sandra Silveira I can remember when I was a medical student Camargo and Magali Louis on anti-doping. being told that 50 per cent of what I was learning The format used was one of discussing “real” at that time would be obsolete within the next 10 cases, what had happened and how this might years. be investigated and what penalty (if any) should The problem was, of course, that no one told be applied to the competitor concerned. They me which 50 per cent! had put a lot of work in to their presentation and I thank them sincerely for that. Dr Rik Hagen That led me to wonder if that type of format FIA WRC Regional Medical Delegate for Asia and might be applied more widely to the Seminar as Oceania a whole? Member of FIA Anti-Doping Disciplinary The types of presentations that I have seen Committee work well in the past include: - Editor: Thanks for your comments on the FIA Medical Scenario based presentations Summit. The FIA Medical Commission received Where there is a panel with assigned roles positive and constructive feedback from many of the such as Clerk of Course, CMO, Ambulance delegates at the event. All of this will be considered Coordinator, Chief Marshal, Fire Chief and Police when it begins planning for the next one. Commander. The moderator starts the scenario narrative, pauses for input from the panel members and then progressively reveals more Dear Editor information for further comment etc. I was a delegate at the excellent Medical Summit The 2016 Medical Summit welcomed 2016 in Vienna. This is the third Summit I have motor sport doctors Debates on Controversial Subjects attended, and I have been impressed by each. from across the world Where there are two opposing sides (e.g. the Not only is there the chance to network with merits or otherwise of Cervical Collars!) and colleagues and other experts with years of 4 5 AUTO+MEDICAL GLOBAL NEWS AUTO+MEDICAL GLOBAL NEWS EARNHARDT JR Garry Connelly RETURNS FROM presented May MAJOR CONCUSSION with the award GLOBAL NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr says he is approaching a new era of his career after missing much of the 2016 season with concussion. The American driver crashed heavily at the Michigan NASCAR round last June and although he NEWS participated in the next three events, he sat out the rest of the season after being diagnosed with concussion – his AMR will send second in four years. DR BRENT MAY NAMED FIA staff to all Earnhardt was cleared to return to NASCAR events racing at the end of 2016 and made DOCTOR OF THE SEASON his return at the 2017 season-opening race in Daytona. “I do feel like this is a new chapter, Australian Grand Prix chief Chairman Garry Connelly handed for whatever reason,” he said. “I don’t medical officer Dr Brent May has the award to May, who is also the have a vision for what’s going to won the FIA Best Doctor of the Chief Medical Officer for happen. I don’t know how to explain Season award for 2016. Motorcycling Australia and it, but it feels like a new me.” The honour is one of seven FIA Karting Australia. During his recovery, Earnhardt was awards that are presented each May described the award as open about his diagnosis in year to officials working in motor “an amazing honour to receive”. interviews and on social media, an sport, such as doctors, stewards He added: “It was wonderful to approach that he believes helped to and marshals. be recognised for the work I do reduce his anxiety and stress-levels. May was presented with the for CAMS as well as in my role as He said: “To heal from the award at the Confederation of CMO for Karting Australia and concussion, I needed to be stress- Australian Motor Sport’s annual Motorcycling Australia.” free, to get that stress as low as gala in February 2017. During the Turn to page 18 to read a full possible,” he said. “I worried a ton event, FIA Formula One Stewards interview with Dr May.