Extractable seat demonstrated

(30-Oct-98) - The FIA have demonstrated a new extractable seat that will
become compulsory in Formula 1 next year - and could be adopted by other
formulae.

The primary function of the seat is to allow the driver to be lifted out of
a crashed car while he is still strapped into his seat, so that in the
event of a serious accident, no further damage might be inflicted to his
back or other limbs.

The main differences to a normal seat are that it has extra straps to be
used to lift it out and that it has a head rest to allow the head to be
kept in a rigid position. While the model on show had been built and
developed by the Lear Corporation in conjunction with Stewart Grand Prix,
teams may either buy them from Lear or build their own.

The driver will still be able to use a pre-formed shape in the car which
will allow maximum comfort.

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