[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by JAG

Take your theory to it's logical conclusion, and single seaters would be banned outright, considering the lack on side impact protection.

The DTM and WRC both run large, wide bodied, saloons/sedans. They are both moving towards regs that cocoon the driver in tight fitting, almost single seater like, tubs. Rally drivers and co-drivers have both been killed in recent years due to side impacts with trees and lamposts, the basic, wide bodied cars with rollcage, provide little protection in such an incident. Only last year Marcus Gronholm was injured on the Rally of Ireland when he hit a wall side on at relativelly low speed, yet single seater drivers escape unscathed from similar side on impacts.

What helps is the aformentioned head protection and cushioning, which works best when the driver is packed tightly in the cockpit, i.e single seaters/908, there is no logical reason to move to wider cockpits for safety reasons, other than easier access to remove the driver.

A regular LMP1 already provides ampl side impact crush zones for a driver, the tub always stands upto the impact with little damage, the question is whether the driver can survie the shock and whiplash of the impact.

Altering chassis to reduce the risk of flight is a totally different proposition.

My thoughts about widening the tub has nothing to do with safety. Think of it as quick way to eliminate aero development areas, especially if they push the tub out to the edge of the chassis as in the Group C days. That way you have monocoque in the way and it is difficult to loop hole around.