Supercars have mandated an update to the in-car warning system in the wake of the Tailem Bend start-line crash.
Thomas Randle and Andre Heimgartner escaped a scary incident at the OTR SuperSprint last month. An unsighted Heimgartner hit the stalled Randle, with the impact recorded at 38g. Both drivers will race at this weekend’s Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint, albeit in spare cars.
Ahead of Sandown, the Supercars Commission has mandated a controlled configuration for the stalled car alarm.The change has been mandated from this weekend’s event onwards.
It ensures other warning alarms already programmed do not receive priority during the start procedure.
Previously, display controls were left to the teams’ discretion.
All drivers will now receive a full in car warning, which will be sent directly to the dashboard and shift light modules. The warning system supplements stationed flag marshals, who may wave yellow flags on pit wall in the instance of a stalled car.
“Following the incident at Tailem Bend involving Andre Heimgartner and Thomas Randle, the Supercars Commission has agreed to mandate a controlled configuration for the stalled car alarm as part of the In Car Warning System for this weekend’s Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint,” a Supercars statement reads. “Representatives from Repco Supercars Championship teams discussed and agreed to mandate a dash configuration that ensures all drivers will receive a full in car warning, which will be sent directly to the dashboard and shift light modules. This will ensure other warning alarms already programmed for display on the dash do not receive priority during the start procedure.”
“Previously, the displays controls were left to the teams’ discretion. The update to the In Car Warning System will be mandated for all events moving forward.”
Randle will race in the spare Tickford Racing chassis that wildcard Zak Best campaigned at The Bend. Heimgartner has been shifted into a spare Brad Jones Racing car, with his previous racer written off.
