Supercars implemented tighter rules around driver welfare heading into the Darwin Triple Crown with mandatory functioning helmet fan and cool suits required above a certain temperature.
Before that, the 32.9 degree limit only required one of the two be working.
However what could be described as a flaw in the updated system was exposed when the forecast temperatures at Hidden Valley didn’t reach the limit.
That meant when Thomas Randle’s cool suit failed during the sweltering Saturday race there was no regulatory requirement for him to retire.
The Tickford Racing driver battled through all 70-laps in the blistering heat and was so unwell after the race that he couldn’t work and required medical attention.
He attempted to qualify on Sunday morning, but symptoms of his heat exhaustion quickly returned and he was ruled out of Sunday’s race.
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Brodie Kostecki was also absent from Sunday’s race, although that was more closely related to health factors such as a virus and a back issue rather than equipment failure, despite his drink bottle not working on Saturday.
The Randle case in particular raised eyebrows over whether even the new crackdown from Supercars goes far enough.
Potential fixes discussed in the Darwin paddock included a lower temperature limit for the equipment requirements, or even blanket heat rules for the hotter rounds such as Darwin, Townsville and Adelaide regardless of ambient temperature.
Supercars was quick to defend it’s rules in the aftermath of Darwin, as general manager of motorsport Tim Edward explained to Speedcafe.
“The 32.9 has been in our rules a long time,” said Edwards.
“The changes were more about the conditions the cooling must get the driver to if you go over that.
“But up until 32.9 it’s not even compulsory to use the cool suit.
“You never like to see what happened this weekend, so of course we’ll review it.
“But we’ve seen issues with cool suits not working on 18 degree ambient days and they’ve suffered.
“Driving these cars is physically demanding and cabin temperatures are high, even on an 18 degree day.
“It’s not as simple as just going ‘we’ll make it 30 now’, because that wouldn’t help on the 18 degree day as well.”
At this point there is no clear line of sight on whether the post-Darwin review yield any further changes to the regulations.
With another of the hot rounds up next with Townsville, what are your thoughts? Should the driver welfare crackdown go even further? Cast your vote below.
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