Paddock Journal had an unique dialog with Jochen Braunwarth, the Director of Motorsport Options at Geobrugg, a Swiss firm identified globally for its superior security methods.
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Introduction
Geobrugg, a Swiss firm with over 50 years of expertise, is the world chief in producing high-tensile metal wire security nets and meshes. Their experience, honed in defending pure belongings and safeguarding lives throughout varied sectors, has now prolonged to the high-stakes world of motorsport. In the present day, their state-of-the-art security methods, put in on racetracks worldwide, instil confidence in each drivers and spectators, making certain their security. On this interview, we delve into the main points with Jochen Braunwarth, Geobrugg’s Director of Motorsport Options, to be taught extra in regards to the firm’s improvements and the challenges they face within the fast-paced world of motorsport.
Jochen, to begin, might you introduce Geobrugg and its evolution into the motorsport sector?
Jochen Braunwarth: Actually, Daniel. Geobrugg has pioneered safety methods for over 50 years, primarily specializing in pure hazards corresponding to rockfall, slope stabilization, and avalanche obstacles. Our experience is rooted in growing options that handle high-energy impacts—whether or not that’s a falling boulder or, extra lately, a racing automotive at excessive velocity. About 15 years in the past, we had been approached by the FIA, the governing physique for world motorsport, to make use of our take a look at amenities and expertise to guage present security merchandise available in the market. This marked our entry into motorsport, and since then, we’ve grow to be more and more energetic on this subject, bringing our in depth information of affect dynamics to racetrack security.
Geobrugg is now well-known for its motorsport security methods. Are you able to inform us in regards to the completely different methods you present for racetracks?
Jochen Braunwarth: Initially, we began with everlasting installations like particles fences, with our first main venture on the Sepang Worldwide Circuit in Malaysia. But it surely rapidly turned obvious {that a} single product wouldn’t suffice for all racetrack wants. Completely different tracks require completely different options; metropolis circuits, for example, want cellular particles fences for fast setups and teardowns. There’s additionally a necessity for strong pit wall methods. Through the years, we expanded our portfolio to supply a complete suite of services and products, together with consultancy, inspection providers, structure design, and on-site assist throughout race weekends. We’ve developed right into a one-stop store, overlaying every thing from preliminary consultations to post-installation providers, making certain that our purchasers really feel safe and well-supported.
How are these security fences examined to make sure they meet the rigorous calls for of motorsport?
Jochen Braunwarth: Within the early days, no testing was required, and the installations had been primarily based on specs that targeted on energy. Nonetheless, coping with dynamic impacts – the place vitality absorption is significant – is complicated and goes past mere calculations. One among our major exams includes a 780 kg wrecking ball shot at 65 km/h immediately on the fence. This replicates a situation the place a System 1 automotive, after a run-off, may grow to be airborne and hit the fence. Nonetheless, since race automobiles, not wrecking balls, are the fact on tracks, the FIA later launched exams utilizing a one-ton automobile at 120 km/h with a 20-degree affect angle. The objective is to make sure that nothing breaches the three-meter security zone between the fence and the grandstand, safeguarding spectators.
Passing the FIA homologation course of sounds difficult. Are you able to share some insights into this?
Jochen Braunwarth: Certainly, it’s a rigorous course of. Fortuitously, our lengthy historical past of coping with high-energy impacts offers us an edge. All elements of our methods should work collectively seamlessly to cease a automotive or wrecking ball inside the required three meters with out destroying your complete fence. If the fence had been to be fully destroyed, it will result in important race delays, which is unacceptable. Due to this fact, a part of the homologation course of contains proving that our fences might be repaired rapidly, inside a brief break between race periods, making certain minimal disruption. For instance, throughout a WEC occasion in Spa, our system was impacted however required no restore, whereas a close-by guardrail took two hours to repair.
How do the necessities differ between everlasting race tracks and momentary metropolis circuits?
Jochen Braunwarth: The primary distinction lies in set up and dismantling velocity. Metropolis circuits, like these in Chicago or Las Vegas, must be arrange and brought down rapidly to reduce disruption to native site visitors and residents. For instance, the Chicago observe for NASCAR was put in in simply two weeks and dismantled in a single and a half weeks. This calls for exact logistics and planning. However, everlasting circuits just like the Hungaroring supply extra time for set up, which reduces the stress however nonetheless requires meticulous planning since our options are sometimes the final to be put in earlier than a race.
Are there any ongoing R&D efforts at Geobrugg for future developments in security methods?
Jochen Braunwarth: We’re all the time striving to reinforce our merchandise. Motorsport will all the time contain threat, however our objective is to mitigate it as a lot as attainable. At the moment, we’re engaged in R&D to enhance system efficiency and combine completely different components extra successfully. For instance, we’re exploring methods to make life simpler for photographers by offering versatile openings within the fences. Furthermore, we’re contemplating combined actuality as a instrument for patrons to visualise our merchandise in real-world settings earlier than set up. This dedication to innovation ought to make our viewers really feel optimistic about the way forward for racetrack security.
What has been the most important problem for Geobrugg in System 1?
Jochen Braunwarth: One of many largest challenges is altering mindsets, significantly at established amenities. Many have been working with the identical contractors for many years, so convincing them to strive one thing new can take time. Within the U.S., for instance, it took about 5 to 6 years of persistent effort to get some venues to present our options an opportunity. The resistance was primarily as a result of worry of change and the idea that their present methods had been ample. As soon as they did, they noticed the distinction and embraced the brand new know-how. We’re additionally exploring methods to make our merchandise extra relatable and simpler to grasp, presumably via combined actuality, to assist prospects visualize their future racetracks and the security methods in place earlier than they’re even constructed.
Conclusion
Innovation and a radical understanding of affect dynamics have marked Geobrugg’s transition from pure hazard safety to motorsport security. Jochen Braunwarth’s insights reveal the complexity and dedication behind making certain that each racetrack is as secure as attainable, permitting the fun of motorsport to proceed with out compromising the security of these concerned. As Geobrugg continues to push the boundaries of what’s attainable, the way forward for racetrack security appears to be like each promising and safe.
