CIK-FIA Drop Down Bumpers: What's Next?


  4 March 2015
 

The controversial CIK-FIA 'drop down' front bumper, designed to dislodge and drag on the ground upon impact over 7kmh, has drawn mixed and passionate debate from drivers, organisers and followers of karting.

Feedback via social media includes statements like "it's killing the racing" through to "the races are now very clean".

Professional driver Bas Lammers has called other drivers to stand up against the new rules. Dino Chiesa, team manager of Chiesa Corse Zanardi, has recently expressed a similar opinion to Lammers.

Meanwhile, the CIK has issued a press release that basically says the bumpers are great for the sport.

While we have heard of no concrete plans to introduce the bumpers to the local scene, organisers of the 2015 German Championship will allow their racers to use the new drop-down bumpers, or the older fixed front bumper - as long as it's still homologated (only systems manufacturered by KG (1/CA/17), COMER (5/CA/17) and PCR (97/CA/17) remain homologated through to the end of 2017).

  • UPDATE: kartcom.com report there have been instances of dropped bumpers going under a kart, one even causing the kart to roll-over. Read about that, with photo, HERE.

Statements from Lammers and the CIK-FIA are below. Both have valid points.


pic - CIK/FIA

from Bas Lammers

Dear followers, teams, drivers and sponsors,

The new "drop down bumper system: is it the final solution to the problem of racecontacts or just another difficult rule to apply that will turn people away from karting?

We (drivers) are not able to do anything anymore. We are scared to overtake our concurrents, we are scared to be close as possible behind our concurrent because we are scared to loose our front bumper because if the concurrents wants to win and is clever, he just have to brake a little bit more or miss his gears and we loose our front bumper, we get a penalty (30sec) for the mistake of the other driver. We are scared to pass a curbstone because we can loose the front spoiler with that, if that happens we get a penalty for it (30sec).

Karting is not a contactsport, we all do know that but i'm sure that most of you agreed with me that with this kind of rules people will turn away of karting!

Teams, sponsors and karting manufacturers are spending so much money for racing, REAL HIGH LEVEL RACING.

IT'S TIME TO STAND UP, STOP ALL THE NONSENSE AND BRING BACK THE KARTING TO IT'S VALUE!

Please I would like to ask to all of you to share this message and to stand up againsts to the nonsense rules!

With best regards, Bas Lammers

 

from CIK-FIA

From the first Competitions of the season, the new front fairing complying with the 2015 CIK-FIA Regulations has changed drivers behaviour, encouraging them to gradually adopt more respectful driving techniques. The results are already dramatic. By limiting rough passing manoeuvres, this simple system makes Karting more sporting.

With today's karts, some drivers have developed bad habits, not hesitating to hit their opponents to gain an advantage. Over time, contact between karts has reached an unacceptable level for the smooth running of Competitions. The CIK-FIA has decided to react by researching different solutions with its technical partners. This is what was implemented on 1st January 2015, a simple and economic system which tilts the front fairing to the ground without detaching it, when there is a significant impact. Any Driver returning to the parc ferme at the end of a Qualifying Heat, a Prefinal or Final with a dropped front fairing is systematically penalised 30 seconds.

The positive consequences of this new regulation have not been long in coming. Once past the discovery phase, Drivers have adapted their driving to the new system. The first international Competitions of the 2015 season allowed the benefits to be measured. There were less unwanted stampedes at the start, and respect from everyone helped to significantly reduce the handicap of starting from the outside line. Massive clashes that were frequent until now at the first corner are in the past. All Drivers now have the best chance to complete the first lap calmly and then to demonstrate their driving talent up to the chequered flag without fearing a dangerous manoeuvre.

The new front fairing attachment is still in its infancy, but has already convinced most of the drivers and team leaders. Here are some significant testimonies, recently collected from experienced professionals.

Paul Fletcher, owner of the PF Int'l circuit and a leading figure in British Karting: "I am very impressed by the effectiveness of the new front fairing fasteners. They unquestionably encourage good starts without clashes at the first corner. I hope this finally marks the return of respect on the track! I support the implementation of the new regulation as soon as possible in Britain."

Olivier Maréchal, head of the Kosmic Racing Department: "We had to do something to fight against aggressiveness on track. The new front fairing fixings fulfil this mission. We have already seen a significant change in the progress of the races which is very positive."

Ricky Flynn, head of Ricky Flynn Motorsport: "Drivers have quickly realized that it is now necessary to prevent contact. It's great to watch fair starts. We should soon see respect between the drivers that has been lost for some time. We must continue on this path."

The CIK-FIA is aware that the current system is not totally perfect, but does perfection exist? Its use in Competition is being watched very closely and reflection is continuing to improve effectiveness, which also requires drivers to learn.

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