You'll be familiar with the track marshals at racing events, but there's also a team of extractors working alongside them on the track, whose job it is to extricate a driver trapped in a vehicle. This requires the utmost care to avoid aggravating any injuries, particularly to the spine.
This weekend, the Circuit Paul Ricard welcomed some 150 French and European extractors to renew their homologation to operate on European circuits for the coming seasons. The training was supervised by the FIA (Fédération Internationale Automobile), the FFSA (Fédération Française du Sport Automobile) and the Circuit Paul Ricard Chief Medical Officer.
The training sessions took place on the various vehicles made available to extract the “victims” (truck, single-seater, Prototype and GT). The FFSA and FIA representatives were able to evaluate the maneuvers and make any necessary corrections.
Jean Alesi, President of Circuit Paul Ricard:
“Driver safety is a major issue in motor sport. The role of extraction teams has always seemed vital to me during my career, as the slightest error in handling after an accident can be fatal. So it's only natural that I should want the Circuit Paul Ricard to play an active role in the training of extraction teams, by making its infrastructures and training vehicles available. Finally, I would like to thank and salute the incredible work of the medical teams from the FIA, the FFSA and the circuit, who supervise the training sessions”.