Race Safety
Race marshals are responsible for the safety of competitors and are stationed at key locations around race track to warn them of incidents on the course ahead, assist drivers in case of collisions, accidents or other problems on the course.
Race marshals on the circuit ensure that all required emergency equipment and vehicles are in place and are always ready to respond to an incident at a moment’s notice. They give consistent information to drivers with racing flags and signals; assess the track surface condition; observe competitors for driving behaviour and their trucks’ mechanical condition; help drivers and others in an incident; and communicate information to Race Control who are in charge of the event. Emergency services are experts with training in medical response, firefighting, and vehicle recovery.
The race Control at the Buddh International circuit is fully equipped and manned. 50 cameras, communication equipment, digital flagging systems, time control and digital Video Storage systems are functional all through the event. The race Director and the Clerk of the Course with their team of personnel, constantly monitor the entire weekends proceedings and issue necessary instructions in order for the safe conduct of the race.
Race Track Safety
There are a number of different safety installations present to make a track safe; large run off areas, energy absorbing barriers and speed traps filled with soft materials. Active as well as passive safety for race drivers, vehicles and race tracks make it safe for a race.
Run Off Areas
Run off Areas are large open areas that are adjacent to the race track, and at the entry and exit of corners. These areas allow a truck that goes off the track, to regain control and rejoin the race in order to continue the race.
Energy Absorbing Barriers
Race tracks have various lines of defence in order to absorb the impact of an accident and avoid the truck from leaving the circuit. The various types of barriers and energy absorption systems available at the Buddh International circuit are:
- Tecpro Barriers
- Guard Rails
- Concrete Blocks with Debris Fencing
- Debris Fence
Tecpro Barriers
The first line of defence at Buddh Circuit has specialized foam-filled Tecpro barriers which absorb the initial impact of a crash. These barriers are made in France and have undergone rigorous tests as mandated by the FIA which is the world governing body for motorsport.
Rigid or Fixed Barriers
The second line of defence at the Buddh International Circuit, are the Guard rails or debris fence mounted interlocking concrete blocks. The guard rails have been manufactured as per the guidelines laid down by the FIA. They are triple high and rise up to 1 meter from the surface of the race track. They are embedded at a depth of 1.2 meters into the soil and are designed to absorb high speed impacts. Interlocking concrete blocks with debris fence mounted on them are installed in locations where guard rails cannot be installed. They perform the same function as the guard rails.
Debris Fence
Debris fence around the Buddh International circuit has been made and specially imported from Belgium. The fence is located 1 meter behind the guard rail and is either 2.6 meters or 3.2 meters high and serves as the third and last line of defence. The fencing has 16mm diameter steel cabling running at fixed intervals across its entire height and across the entire length of the fence. Flying debris or parts that break or come loose from the trucks are trapped by these fences.
Traps with Soft Materials
Traps are generally installed at the end of a straight or around a very fast turn or corner. Their primary function is to slow a truck that has gone off the track before it impacts one of the 3 lines of defence explained above. The trap is filled with gravel not smaller than 6mm and not bigger than 20mm in diameter.
All of the above crash barriers and absorption systems ensure safety for not only the driver but also the officials around the race track and the spectators as well.
Trucks Safety
The TATA Prima racing trucks have been modified in accordance with Appendix J, Article 290 of the FIA International Sporting Code. They confirm to all of the safety and technical regulations as stipulated under the regulations and are modified in the exactly the same way as the racing trucks which run internationally. Some of the salient features are as under:
- Speed has been restricted to 160 Kilometres per hour.
- Double circuit operated brakes with “four circuit” protection valves
- 6 point safety harness (Special seat belts)
- Safety Cage – Protects the driver by preventing the cabin from caving in, in the event of a major accident
- Fixed back homologated Seats with an extension padded with energy absorbing and non-inflammable material around the drivers head
- AFFF Type on board fire extinguisher
- Circuit Breaker for emergency engine shut down
FIA Regulations
The FIA is the world governing body for Motorsport. TATA Prima truck racing is a FIA (International Automobile Federation) certified event.
All FIA, regulations such as the International Sporting Code, Appendix L which governs licencing and driving standards, General Prescriptions of truck racing and the sporting regulations, are strictly complied with from when the event starts until the time it ends after the post event technical checks are completed.
The event and all the race officials have been licenced by the FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India), which is the representative of the FIA and the governing body for Motorsports in India and recognised by the Government of India.