The FIA has published details about the new Virtual Safety Car (VSC) which will officially debut in 2015 to improve safety during a race weekend.
The system comes in response to Jules Bianchi’s serious accident at the Japanese Grand Prix last year when he span off the circuit and hit a recovery vehicle. An official review into the accident found Bianchi was driving too quickly for the conditions which currently under double waved yellows.
The VSC somewhat takes the responsibility of slowing down to an acceptable level away from the drivers, and enforces it through a temporary speed limit which must be abided by or a driver will face a penalty.
It doesn’t replace the Safety Car, but will be used for less serious incidents which warrant drivers to reduce their speed, most likely because marshals are on track.
Once race control gives the order, “VSC DEPLOYED” will be shown on the messaging system whilst the trackside light panels will show “VSC”.
The drivers must then reduce speed and stay above the minimum time set by the FIA at least once in each marshalling sector (defined as the piece of track between each of the trackside light panels).
No cars may enter the pits whilst the VSC is deployed unless it is to change tyres.
Once the reason for the VSC has been cleared or made safe, the FIA will notify the teams via the messaging system with the notice “VSC ENDING” before changing the light boards to green 10-15 seconds later. Drivers can then begin racing immediately.
After 30 seconds, the light boards will return to their sleep status.
A penalty will be given to any driver who dips below the minimum time limit, except when entering the pits, leaving the pits, whilst in the pit entry or if any car slows with an obvious problem.
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