Light panels to be mandatory on MotoGP/WorldSBK tracks

Tracks which host MotoGP, F1, WorldSBK, WEC plus more will be made to use light panels which give information.

Light panels, used to relay information such as flags and weather, will become mandatory on all tracks which host MotoGP, F1, WorldSBK and other championships in a bid to improve safety in a collaboration between the FIM and the FIA. From 2022, MotoGP and F1 must run these flags, however, WorldSBK and the World Endurance championship are given an extra season to prepare, becoming mandatory in 2023.

Said panels can be operated by race direction but also can be operated by the marshals at the side of the track if required, the point of this exercise is to make an effort to improve safety as it is becoming more and more common for riders to miss flags such as yellow flags which indicate an incident on track, telling riders to slow down.

Riders have not been slowing down as they should and are being more frequently penalised, having laps cancelled or grid penalties if they are to crash under a yellow flag, indicating they are pushing too hard. Therefore, these lights are to be used to help the riders see the information more clearly if they are unable to make out a flag for whatever reason. Riders have complained that they sometimes struggle to see a flag being waved, therefore the light panels are designed to improve visibility and have passed rigorous tests under sunlight and rain.

Circuits looking to become FIA Grade 1/FIM Grade A homologated must have these light panels installed.

Featured image – FIA