SBRS: Reynard Barber Dodge to feature improved safety measure

Energy absorbing ropes are a new addition to the Reynard Barber Dodge cars for this season's championship following new rules introduced by the Series to fall in line with CART regulations. Reynard suggested the use of the ropes for the Barber Dodge car following their implementation in Champ Cars last year and following agreement from the Series organisers, developed kits for the Reynard Dodge that will be running in the 2000 Championship.

Matthew Hicks, Chief Design Engineer for the Reynard Barber Dodge, welcomes the ropes, saying, "Safety is a priority in all our design and development work and we are continually reviewing the opportunities to make improvements in this area. The energy absorbing ropes have proved extremely effective in Champ Cars and we identified these as a development that would transfer easily to the Barber Dodge. All the cars have now had the ropes fitted and they will be running with them at the first oval race of the season in Miami this weekend."

Energy absorbing ropes are fitted between the wheel and the chassis, so that in the event of an accident, the risk of the wheel becoming flying debris is reduced. This is especially important at oval track races. The rope specification matches the requirements laid down by CART for champ cars.

Reynard entered the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 1998, designing and manufacturing an all-new chassis that advanced single-spec race car technology to a new level, whilst ensuring that costs were contained to uphold the Barber Dodge concept of affordable racing. The Reynard Dodge design, generated by computer-aided drafting (CAD) technology drawing from the company's vast experience in race car engineering, and a new carbon fibre moulding process developed by the composite division, were implemented to build a strong monocoque that exceeds all FIA driver protection criteria.