Run-off area
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A run-off area is an area on a
Definition
In motorsports racing, there is a concept called the racing line. This is defined in lay terms as the optimal path around a race course that will allow the racer to complete a lap in the least possible time with the highest possible average speed. The racing line is a function of the track's layout and the combination of a particular type of racing vehicle's (such as a car versus a motorcycle) capabilities, and the physics of motor racing.
Because the physics involved in a motorsports event generally propel the racing vehicles along a certain path, and since the racers tend to work with the forces acting on the vehicle and make course changes while not suddenly confronting the forces in play on the vehicle, their locations at certain points along the track can be predicted and their course of travel extrapolated. As a result, in areas where a vehicle is more likely to depart the course (i.e., around the outside of a corner as opposed to alongside a straight-away), course designers will place a run-off area.
Design
Race tracks have evolved over the years, as have motorsports in general, and through the concerted efforts of certain racers and supporting organizations, safety has become a top priority amongst race organizing constituents such as sanctioning leagues, sponsors, tracks, and team owners. Prior to safety being brought to the forefront of the racing world's consciousness, it was often an afterthought and many racers were injured or lost their lives due to accidents that were preventable.
One such example is when World Champion motorcycle racer
Another example is the introduction of the air fence. The air fence performs similarly to the air bag in a commercial passenger vehicle, except that rather than inflating upon impact, it is pre-inflated. By acting as a soft, energy-absorbing barrier, air fences can be placed over hard obstacles around tracks that racers might encounter in the course of an accident. With an air fence in place, the racer has a much better chance of sustaining fewer injuries than if he were to simply hit the object without any buffer. Air fences are especially important (and more widely used) in motorcycle road racing.
Run-off areas are an important safety feature of modern motorsports parks and road courses. They are the basis for several other safety features, such as gravel traps and air fences, which could not be placed anywhere, or would be ineffective without a proper run-off area.
Importance in the perception of a motorsports park's standards
When being interviewed about race tracks and what features they like and dislike, many top professional racers will mention the availability, design, and size of the run-off areas of a certain track. Knowing that they are very safe gives them added peace of mind and allows them to push the limits further, since they have less fear of the consequences of making a mistake.[1]
In short, other than personal safety equipment or the safety features of the race vehicle itself, the most important safety feature of a race track is the quantity, size, quality, maintenance, race-type specific configuration and overall design of its run-off areas.
Economics of track safety
In modern racing leagues, if a track does not have adequate safety preparations including proper run-off areas, racers will often threaten to boycott any events that visit that particular track. In actuality, the racing leagues in question have safety standards to which they hold tracks when selecting them; therefore, if the athletes have an issue with a track it is usually because there is some problem that is either beyond the scope of the rules, or that they interpret them differently from the league. In order to prevent such a
Until racers became actively involved with promoting race track safety, there was no market pressure on the tracks to make such improvements. Now that safety measures are an integral part of the demand equation (with the racing leagues being the consumers and the tracks being the suppliers), tracks must be competitive in terms of their safety facilities in order to be competitive in luring events from the most popular racing leagues.
Because run-off areas and their associated safety devices (i.e. gravel traps, air fences, tire walls, etc.) are a primary safety feature of tracks, they hold enormous economic sway over the track, a consideration that is not lost on designers of new tracks and existing tracks' renovation projects.
References
- ^ "Leading MotoGP riders critical of Jerez run-off areas". us.motorsport.com. May 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-09.