The FIA has made its Impact Data Recorder device available to sporting authorities around the world, making it accessible to the grassroots of motorsport.
The device has been developed by the FIA, with the support of the FIA Foundation, to be a low-cost, reliable system that the FIA hopes has the potential to revolutionise motorsport safety across the globe.
It will give organisers access to real-world accident data, at what the FIA hopes is a cost-effective price, as this has been a barrier to similar technology in the past.
While data is a core part of elite-level motorsport, accident data recorders are often too costly for grassroots competitors - the FIA IDR addresses this issue.
The FIA IDR is just six centimetres long and weighs 12 grammes, with an adhesive patch to attach it to the vehicle requiring no specialist installation or maintenance.
It is also incredibly compatible with multiple motorsport disciplines, from circuit racing to rallies and cross-country events, hillclimbs to autocross and everything in between.
Regardless of the size or extent of an ASNs activities, the FIA IDR can be used to start building a bank of data that will inform the local safety developments of the future.
The likes of the British Touring Car Championship and European Truck Racing Championship tested the device between 2021-2023, as well as being used across all categories in the FIA Motorsport Games this year.
The device now also comes with the FIA IDR Database, which will help local authorities store and analyse the data they collect in a uniform way.
“With the implementation of the database, we expect that over the coming years, our clubs will have access to more and more important information that will allow them to make their circuits, rally stages and competition cars safer for everyone,” said FIA safety director Nuno Costa.
“It really is a project that can have global benefits, and the more competitors are using the FIA IDR, the bigger the safety improvements will be.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem hopes the device will attract more people to motorsport knowing that this data is driving innovation.
“We are relentless in our pursuit of safety in motorsport, from to World Championships to grass roots,” he added.
“With a project such as FIA IDR, we are demonstrating that safety is as important at entry level as it is at the pinnacle in close collaboration with our ASNs.”
