RE: Motorsport can be dangerous, part two
Monday 1st July 2013
Browsing the morning newswires when you see the simple word 'statement' as the subject for a press release from a race series organiser you know it's not good. Of course, we're especially sensitive to such things in the immediate aftermath of Allan Simonsen's death at Le Mans just the other week. But news that another GT driver has been killed and another left with serious injuries, this time in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series, is a further blow to a racing community already reeling from Simonsen's death.
Motorsport can be dangerous, part two
Another weekend, another on-track tragedy, this time in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo
The five-car crash early in the Blancpain Super Trofeo round at Paul Ricard yesterday claimed the life of driver Andrea Mame, who later succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident. A Lamborghini statement said fellow drivers Vaclav Petch, Tomas Kral and Dario Cerati were declared fit by doctors while Andrea Solime was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he is conscious and described as in a 'satisfactory' condition.
Racing was immediately suspended and the event then cancelled, and the statement saying, "Automobili Lamborghini will be working with the circuit authorities and SRO to investigate the accident thoroughly in all its aspects."
Concern about safety in the Super Trofeo series were raised back in 2010 after a shocking crash at the Brno round, discussed here on AxisOfOversteer. While the exact circumstances of the Paul Ricard incident remain to be confirmed Lamborghini will no doubt be looking hard at what can be done to ensure the safety of the 'gentlemen drivers' participating.
In the meantime, of course, the firm and racing community at large is simply offering condolences to Mame's family in what has been a shocking and sobering couple of weeks for all involved in the sport at whatever level.
[Sources: AxisOfOversteer, Lamborghini]
Discussion
As the title says "motorsport can be dangerous". No driver really thinks of the danger or that the worst could happen to them. Short of stopping racing altogether the danger will always be there.
Of course no-one wants to see another death, but then do you want to see the end of racing? People must be allowed to carry on the sport they love. However dangerous the lambo race there are thousands who would jump at the chance to be out there. The "gentleman racers" are fortunate to be able to translate that wish to reality.
Of course no-one wants to see another death, but then do you want to see the end of racing? People must be allowed to carry on the sport they love. However dangerous the lambo race there are thousands who would jump at the chance to be out there. The "gentleman racers" are fortunate to be able to translate that wish to reality.
Not in any way wishing to diminish the situation, and my commiserations to the family of the deceased, but we all know what to expect when we go on a race track, don't we? Every trip to the track is POTENTIALLY lethal; thankfully this is astonishongly rare, but it's not so uncommon as you might think.
You have to either accept that this is a (remote) possibility or stop taking part.
Not being argumentative here - I saw a guy get killed at a bike track day and gave it up shortly afterwards. The potential for serious damage was too high, the rewards not quite enough. Obviously you're a lot safer in a car, but accidents can and do happen.
You have to either accept that this is a (remote) possibility or stop taking part.
Not being argumentative here - I saw a guy get killed at a bike track day and gave it up shortly afterwards. The potential for serious damage was too high, the rewards not quite enough. Obviously you're a lot safer in a car, but accidents can and do happen.
Just goes to illustrate that all of those safety features merely provide an illusion of safety. The bigger the toys, the bigger the risk.
I've lost friends to racing but managed to walk away from a number of incidents that would have been messy on the road in a regular car and each time it happens you thank your blessings and get out of the way.
Places like Cadwell Park and Mallory Park in the UK have (or had) a slightly scary number of deaths per annum (2 or 3 versus *none* at other tracks) but given the sheer number of hours of use they get coupled with the speeds involved it is amazing that there aren't more serious incidents especially at the "club" end of the spectrum where cars can be more vulnerable thanks to age, relatively poor preparation, cheap tyres, etc.
The MSA and FIA go to great lengths to make sure we all do what we can to minimise the risks but what you can't mitigate against can still kill you (like the muppets that think they can outbrake everyone into the inside of a corner that funnels the cars from three abreast down to one). There will always be stupid driver errors that cause incidents in addition to mechanical failures and unfortunately we drivers tend to be rather soft and squidgy compared with the rest of the environment. The end result is messy...
Just remember that the real heroes at the circuits are the marshalls not the drivers
I've lost friends to racing but managed to walk away from a number of incidents that would have been messy on the road in a regular car and each time it happens you thank your blessings and get out of the way.
Places like Cadwell Park and Mallory Park in the UK have (or had) a slightly scary number of deaths per annum (2 or 3 versus *none* at other tracks) but given the sheer number of hours of use they get coupled with the speeds involved it is amazing that there aren't more serious incidents especially at the "club" end of the spectrum where cars can be more vulnerable thanks to age, relatively poor preparation, cheap tyres, etc.
The MSA and FIA go to great lengths to make sure we all do what we can to minimise the risks but what you can't mitigate against can still kill you (like the muppets that think they can outbrake everyone into the inside of a corner that funnels the cars from three abreast down to one). There will always be stupid driver errors that cause incidents in addition to mechanical failures and unfortunately we drivers tend to be rather soft and squidgy compared with the rest of the environment. The end result is messy...
Just remember that the real heroes at the circuits are the marshalls not the drivers
Yes racing is dangerous and death should be grim reminder that it lurks around every corner.
I was just reading a moment ago there was a crash in Poland during which a yellow Koenigsegg ploughed into the crowd. I don't know if anybody was killed but several are very seriously injured...
I was just reading a moment ago there was a crash in Poland during which a yellow Koenigsegg ploughed into the crowd. I don't know if anybody was killed but several are very seriously injured...
Racing is dangerous, its what draws thrill seekers to it.
However end of the day driving on the road is still more dangerous than motorspott and you are more likely to be killed on your journey to work than racing a lambo around Paul Ricard.
as long as we can learn from these accidents such as barrier placement in repsect of Le mans then these guys lives are not totally wasted.
However end of the day driving on the road is still more dangerous than motorspott and you are more likely to be killed on your journey to work than racing a lambo around Paul Ricard.
as long as we can learn from these accidents such as barrier placement in repsect of Le mans then these guys lives are not totally wasted.
It was a black day for motorsport in Ireland also. Experienced rally driver Paul Mulcahy from Co. Waterford died after his car crashed heavily on the Carrick-on-Suir stages rally which took place yesterday, Sunday. Rally was cancelled. Within the close-knit rally community in Ireland such a death is deeply felt.
Terrible news, my condolences to his family.
Have to say I Think we have become a bit complacent, such is the design now of good chassis and saftey pods, Hans devices etc.
Last years high speed crash with Allan McNish http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=allan+mcnish+le+m...
Was unbelivebale that any one could walk away from such an inpact! Losing a GTE Driver last weekend was bad enough but this too is very sad news. Have to say after watching the F1 from Silverstone yesterday its a wonder no one was killed or injured there too with the tyres delamination and throwing debary into the path of other drivers
Have to say I Think we have become a bit complacent, such is the design now of good chassis and saftey pods, Hans devices etc.
Last years high speed crash with Allan McNish http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=allan+mcnish+le+m...
Was unbelivebale that any one could walk away from such an inpact! Losing a GTE Driver last weekend was bad enough but this too is very sad news. Have to say after watching the F1 from Silverstone yesterday its a wonder no one was killed or injured there too with the tyres delamination and throwing debary into the path of other drivers
Antj said:
Racing is dangerous, its what draws thrill seekers to it.
However end of the day driving on the road is still more dangerous than motorspott and you are more likely to be killed on your journey to work than racing a lambo around Paul Ricard.
I'll take that, and dangle it in front of the Mrs when she says 'I thought you were going to give up racing your quad?!?!'However end of the day driving on the road is still more dangerous than motorspott and you are more likely to be killed on your journey to work than racing a lambo around Paul Ricard.
I was only thinking yesterday while participating, that on a certain section of the track we were really going very, very quickly, and I did think how much it was going to hurt should I make a mistake on that section.
The following lap I went round the outside of someone going even quicker than I did the lap before, on the very same stretch.
Based on how I'm feeling today, the risk is worth the reward, and for the gathered few that were watching, we provided some entertainment.
cullenster said:
It was a black day for motorsport in Ireland also. Experienced rally driver Paul Mulcahy from Co. Waterford died after his car crashed heavily on the Carrick-on-Suir stages rally which took place yesterday, Sunday. Rally was cancelled. Within the close-knit rally community in Ireland such a death is deeply felt.
Heard this on 2FM as I travelled back to Dublin. Yesterday was a bad day for world motorsport. Thoughts are with the families.I know it's morbid, and one must be sympathetic to the wishes of friends and family etc, but I do hope there is someone at the FIA making note of the causes of fatality in these incidents. Were the drivers wearing HANS devices? Were there any safety feature failures? Were they just freak accidents? Was there anything about the drivers fitness levels that contributed to the fatality?
As someone who competes I feel like I'm in a bit of a knowledge vacuum about the causes of racer fatality. I wear a HANS, have bought the best kit I can afford, but sometimes I wonder is there anything else I could do?
Perhaps other racers feel the same?
As someone who competes I feel like I'm in a bit of a knowledge vacuum about the causes of racer fatality. I wear a HANS, have bought the best kit I can afford, but sometimes I wonder is there anything else I could do?
Perhaps other racers feel the same?
Of course my commiserations to all involved. This is after all a gentlemans series (sic) but they all have the valid licences to compete so I think the problem lies with marshalling and safety measures. Looking at the Brno incident if that was a fully sanctioned professional series the marshalling,response times and equipment would have been far superior to what I just saw and these racers and risks are surely at the danger and risk levels of a GT event. So I would say lessen the risk by improving the rapid response times and personnel available at these 2nd tier events by raising the entry fees and spending it on safety upgrades
BallsOfTitanium said:
Of course my commiserations to all involved. This is after all a gentlemans series (sic) but they all have the valid licences to compete so I think the problem lies with marshalling and safety measures. Looking at the Brno incident if that was a fully sanctioned professional series the marshalling,response times and equipment would have been far superior to what I just saw and these racers and risks are surely at the danger and risk levels of a GT event. So I would say lessen the risk by improving the rapid response times and personnel available at these 2nd tier events by raising the entry fees and spending it on safety upgrades
The Lamborghini Trofeo Challenge is a support race to the SRO Blancpain Endurance Series - currently the biggest and most professional GT series in the world. The level of professionalism on and off the track at these meetings is 2nd to none. The infrastructure of the series is a match for WEC or ELMS.The Brno incident you mentioned was back in 2010, and the level of teams, drivers and personnel taking part in the Series has improved greatly since.
Yes there is still a large element of 'gentleman drivers' within the series, but the driver in question's co-driver was Adrian Zaugg, who has raced in A1GP and GP2.
Dont forget Wolf Silvester rip either who died in the VLN race at the Nurburgring last saturday a previous two time class winner at the 24hr Rennen and popular local driver to the Nordscliefe. But i agree with others if you want the ultimate thrill you gotta be willing to pay the ultimate price, Motorsport is dangerous we all know it end of, I'm full of plates screws hip replacements etc at 38 but hey it was all worth it in the end i thought hey i'm going to kill myself riding like this on the "Ring" so gave it up.. You pays yer monies yer takes yer chances simple.....
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