Safety tray set to debut

DJR Team Penske will implement its new foot and leg protection tray for this year’s enduros, after working with Supercars and the Chassis Technical Advisory Panel (CTAP) to ensure it will improve driver safety.

With its US connections, DJR Team Penske has developed the tray combining research conducted for NASCAR, and local information and consultation with Supercars and the category's medical delegate Carl Le.

DJRTP managing director Ryan Story was positive the tray would make a difference, with driver safety crucial in Supercars.

“These efforts – and Erebus have done similar with the E-Cell – these are not technologies that are developed without significant research,” Story told Supercars.com.

“We’re confident it will be a step forward. We would not be putting it in the car if that wasn’t the case.”

Development began after Bathurst last year, where former DJR driver Chaz Mostert suffered a broken leg and wrist, and knee trouble; while DJRTP’s own Scott Pye suffered a broken rib in a separate accident at Mount Panorama.

Lee Holdsworth was also injured after a massive 95g side impact in Darwin in June, which left him with a fractured pelvis, knee and ribs.

So, the implementation is timely, with DJR Team Penske focused on improving safety for its four drivers who will race throughout the Pirtek Enduro Cup.

“We will have that in the car at Bathurst,” Story said.  

“We’ve gone through the motions, working through Supercars and the CTAP to give other teams the opportunity to evaluate what we have … and how we can implement that. Not just for our team but for others interested to do so.

“We’re committed to running it.”

The tray will provide increased protection around the driver’s lower leg, from the mid-thigh downward, and is not expected to affect the driver’s control of the vehicle.

It could be used in conjunction with the Erebus E-Cell for example, and is not a replacement for the ‘safety seat’ which was developed as part of its Mercedes-Benz E-63 program.

“[The tray] is based on considerable research in NASCAR, it’s not something that we’ve come up with overnight or in any sort of manner that is not conducive to solid research and understanding of how the driver moves when there are lateral forces in play,” Story said.  

“We’re confident it’s a big step forward in terms of safety and we’ve done our homework to make sure it’s done in the right way.

“So we will run it for the enduros, Bathurst especially, and that will be standard kit in the DJR Team Penske cars.”

Crashes are part of motorsport, but drivers getting injured shouldn’t be.

“You don’t ever want to see that,” Story said.  

“Accidents happen but drivers are the heroes and they need to be able to walk away from cars when those sorts of things take place.”