APRIL 3, 1995

Pioneering safety

The Total Jordan Peugeot team used an experimental red laser device at the Brazilian Grand Prix, in an effort to improve tail-light visibility in rainy conditions.

F1 drivers have long been terrified of accidents in the wet when the spray is so thick that the red tail lights on the cars cannot be seen. This is often a problem at Hockenheim where the spray hangs between the trees, unable to be blown away by winds. The German track was the scene of the accident in 1982, which ended Didier Pironi's racing career, when his Ferrari ran over the rear of Alain Prost's Renault. A couple of years ago Derek Warwick had a frightening accident in similar conditions when he hit the rear of Luca Badoer's Lola-Ferrari.

The laser system is believed to be one of the first ideas being pioneered by Professor Sid Watkins's new safety committee, established after the Imola accidents last season.