We received a guest column from Guy Gonyea from the United States. Read the column below. Also interested to write for us? Please contact us at [email protected]
It was tragic news this week when we learned of the death of ex-F1 driver and IndyCar racer Justin Wilson. Just as it was when Jules Bianci finally succumbed to his injuries after his freak accident at Suzuka last year. It became especially difficult after 20+ years of F1 without a driver fatality. We got used to the incredible safety measures that have become the norm in modern F1.
This month Niki Lauda, perhaps the greatest living testament to the dangers of the old F1 visited the MotoGP event at Brno in the Czech Republic. He commented that MotoGP is more exciting now than F1. As Lauda stated, MotoGP machines are clearly difficult to ride, in comparison to modern F1 cars being “too easy†to drive.
MotoGP (as well as Superbikes, TT, etc) is a hugely attractive motor sport. Why? Because MotoGP riders have talent and GUTS! Their speeds are quite comparable with F1 and not only do they race wheel-to-wheel they race shoulder to shoulder, on only half the wheels and with no seatbelts! The bikes look spectacular and even without knowing the technical intricacies of the class MotoGP races are just plain exciting to watch.
MotoGP is also more dangerous than F1. Traveling at 300kph+ and risking high siding (being pitched over the top of an out of control bike) is without question a risky business. Serious injury and death are much more frequent companions in a MotoGP paddock than they are in F1 and it appears that most all motorcycle racers know the risks are high.
And herein lies another point that makes MotoGP, Superbikes and TT more exciting. These are dangerous sports! Today’s 2-wheeled racers share a DNA more in common with the great F1 drivers of yesterday than do F1 drivers of today. Few, if any fans want to see riders/drivers die in the sport that they love. But there is an undeniable aspect of motorsports; we make heroes out of those who are willing to risk their lives in pursuit of what they love.
F1 has made great strides in safety. We’ve got safer, stronger cars and safer modern circuits. F1 drivers routinely walk away from 30+ G-force crashes. Runoff areas often let drivers safely make mistakes while hardly missing a beat. This is probably good from a commercial business point of view. But for F1’s DNA it may be fatal.
Now, with the sad losses of Bianci and Wilson, 2 drivers who were not only respected for their talents but loved for being wonderful human beings we are revisiting enclosing drivers’ heads in F1 and Indy cars, historically, the weakest spot in open cockpit racing. By all means, safety should be important but in our modern, politically correct, safety-conscious world let us not forget that what makes us most alive is when we risk life itself in pursuit of….life. We most admire those who are willing to risk their lives in order to live their passion. Whether the mountain climber, the astronaut or the racecar driver, if there was not a real risk of loss of life we would not tune in to follow them.
I am not opposed to driver enclosures. In fact, I don’t see clearly the hesitancy based on the quick driver exit test. WEC LPM cars are as fast as F1 and they have enclosed cockpits and it doesn’t seem to be an issue. In modern F1 cars there is a much higher chance of a driver suffering a head injury than an onboard fire. Indeed, in most crashes we DON’T want the drivers to get out or be removed too quickly as we don’t want to cause further injury.
In the old days racers used to climb inside their cars, which were not much more than incredibly fast, space-framed coffins. They raced against each other, the elements and the numerous dangers lining the tracks. They too often lost a fellow competitor on one Sunday only to show up the next to race again, not in disrespect of the loss of their compatriot’s life but in honor of it. How often have we have heard the words, “He would have wanted it this way.â€
In order for F1 to regain its glory certain things are key. F1 cars need to become monsters to drive again. And yes, we must make the sport safe yet it must remain dangerous. F1 drivers used to not only race against their competitors, they raced against the dangers of the track. That is gone now. If we make the cars safer than we need to make the tracks more risky. Error has to come at a higher price and talent and courage have to have greater reward.
Guy Gonyea
