Simple Side by Side Contact - Scenario 4 - Example A
In this example two cars are approaching a corner. The lead Car (Car A) runs wide and presents an opportunity for the following car (Car B) to attack. Car A
must defend cleanly and Car B must not take any unnecessary risks. The cars make contact on the exit of the corner. Who, if anyone, is at fault?
The cars approach the corner
Car A is on the racing line. Car B is following and at this point is not trying to overtake.
Overhead view:
Car A can turn in along the "groove" as shown by the green arrow.
Cockpit View - Car A:
Car A can just see Car B in his right hand mirror.
Cockpit View - Car B:
Car B has a clear view of Car A.
Car A cannot hold the racing line
Car A slips to the outside of the racing line. Car B manages to maintain the racing line.
Overhead view:
Car A is clearly to the outside of the racing line.
Cockpit View - Car A:
Car A has a clear view of Car B in his right hand mirror.
Cockpit View - Car B:
Car B has a clear view of Car A moving to the left of the "groove".
Car A misses the apex
Car A maintains control but runs wide and misses the apex. Car B keeps to the racing line.
Overhead views:
Car A starts to drift wide whilst Car B remains on the racing line.
A later wider angle view shows how Car A ends up on the outside of the track opposite to the apex of the corner. Car B is on the
racing line approaching the apex
The cars are now racing for position
Car A has lost the right to the inside line. Car B has every right to attack.
Correct lines:
Both cars should remain on their own side of the track until they are sure they are ahead of the other car.
Car A wrong line:
Car A should not cut back to the inside.
Car B wrong line:
Car B should not drift wide
Car A tries to regain the racing line after running wide
Having run very wide, Car A has lost the right to defend the inside line. Car B manages to maintain the racing line and now has command of the inside line.
Overhead view:
Car A has been positioned to attack this inside line on the exit of the corner. Car B is as close to the inside as possible.
Outside view:
Close racing for the spectators! From this view it is obvious that Car B could not be closer to the inside kerb.
Cockpit View - Car A:
Car A cannot see Car B. The driver of Car A needs to anticipate where Car B may be and drive accordingly. Drivers must ensure
they do not make contact with other cars. The driver of Car A must assume Car B is on his inside.
Cockpit View - Car B:
Car B cannot see Car A. The driver of Car B might assume Car A has run wide and onto the grass but he hasn't seen anything so
he cannot be sure. Consequently he must assume Car A is on his outside.
Both cars prepare to exit the corner
Car A starts to cut across to the inside. Car B maintains the racing line.
Overhead view:
Car A is clearly on the outside and Car B is on the inside. Neither car has a clear lead.
Cockpit View - Car A:
Car A still cannot see Car B.
Cockpit View - Car B:
Car B still cannot see Car A.
The trajectories start to converge
Car A continues to cut across to the inside. Car B maintains the racing line.
Overhead view:
The cars get closer. Neither car has a clear lead.
Cockpit View - Car A:
Car A still cannot see Car B.
Cockpit View - Car B:
Car B still cannot see Car A.
The trajectories continue to converge
Car A continues to cut across to the inside. Car B maintains the racing line.
Overhead view:
The cars get even closer. Neither car has a clear lead, they are side-by-side.
Outside view:
The drivers must be able to hear each other's engines at this close proximity.
Cockpit View - Car A:
Car A still cannot see Car B.
Cockpit View - Car B:
Car B still cannot see Car A.
Contact is inevitable
Car A has cut across to the inside. Car B has maintained a very tight line and is actually inside the racing line.
Overhead view:
The dashed line marking the centre line clearly shows that Car A has crossed over onto Car B's side of the track.
The red arrow shows Car A's path. The green arrow shows Car B's path.
Outside view:
The cars are almost touching. The spectators must be on the edge of their seats!
Cockpit View - Car A:
Car A still cannot see Car B.
Cockpit View - Car B:
Car B can finally see the front wheel of Car A.
Contact occurs
Car A and Car B collide.
Overhead view:
The collision was caused by Car A cutting back onto the racing line. Having run wide, Car A had presented an opportunity and Car B had every right to attempt a pass.
At the apex both cars were fighting for position and neither car had the right to the racing line. Both cars should have remained on their own side of the track.
Car B did remain on the inside so no blame can be apportioned to Car B. Car A moved over and consequently is liable to a penalty.
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