Racing Academy: Crash Safety in Formula E

Learn about the crash structures and safety systems of Formula E’s Gen2 car...

Alongside Formula E’s carbon-neutral, all-electric status, the championship also holds another unique element when it comes to competition.

Since 2014, the series has raced solely on street circuits, and while this brings the action closer to fans, for drivers, the margins have never been so fine, with the barriers closer than ever.

As such, ensuring safety is key, and with the design of Spark Racing Technology’s Spark SRT05e – also known as the Gen 2 – the standards set out by the FIA are perfectly upheld.

Alongside the Gen2’s carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb chassis, it also features two crash boxes which have been designed with safety in mind.

As explained by ROKiT Venturi Racing Team Manager, Delphine Biscaye, these structures are instrumental in keeping the chassis intact, especially in a big accident:

“We have what we call the crash boxes at the front and rear of the car,” said Delphine. 

“The front crash box is the nose of the vehicle, mounted on the front of the chassis bulkhead. This is very thick and features aluminum reinforced carbon which makes it stronger than the skin on other parts of the car. 

“We also have the same at the rear. The rear crash box is bolted on the powertrain housing and runs until the end of the car.

“The crash boxes – alongside the side crash fairings – are tested and designed especially to take crash load and acceleration. 

“This ensures that if a driver is involved in a big crash then this will absorb the shock, meaning the chassis will remain intact enough to keep the driver safe inside.”

Even from above, a driver is protected, with both the roll hoop and the Halo device – which was introduced in 2018 – defending them from harm in the event of the car rolling over.

“The roll hoop features a special reinforcement inside and is just behind the head of the driver, protecting them in case the car rolls over,” continued Delphine. “A driver’s head will never touch the ground because the roll hoop will always touch before.

“The FIA physically measure the roll hoop every time during scrutineering to make sure that there is enough height between the top of the driver and this part so it is safe in the event of this kind of accident. 

“Since Season 5, we also have the Halo on the car which is a titanium structure that is bolted to the chassis. 

“This also helps in the event of a rollover but if a piece of debris detached from another vehicle, it would also prevent it from hitting a driver’s head.”

A driver’s moulded seat is also specially designed and should a serious accident occur in which a driver is injured or unresponsive, this doubles up as an extraction seat.

In this process, Formula E’s safety team will arrive on the scene and remove the driver from the cockpit, all while avoiding the risk of further injury.

“Alongside the safety harness for the drivers, the seat also features extra belts that are folded against the shell, below the legs, in the lower back and at the upper back,” added Delphine. 

“During the extraction, the medical team will gather around the car, fasten all of the belts on the shell of the seat, and then lift the seat out of the car, keeping it as straight as possible.

“The driver is then carefully taken out of the seat, put into an inflatable shell and is then transported to the medical centre or hospital like this.”