DTM teams use smart markings to prevent accidents in the pit area, with the aim of reducing unsafe releases. Recently, the category has increased the distance between pit stops at Norisring to avoid incidents and collisions. However, teams have found additional methods, such as using adhesive tape strips, to help manage the releases.
Already at Lausitzring, several glow-in-the-dark stickers were seen, placed visibly for mechanics at the boundary of the pit area. DTM teams occupied the upper area, while ADAC GT Masters teams occupied the lower one. But how does this system work exactly?
Clear References
“The lollipop man establishes references,” explains Steve Buschmann, manager of the Mercedes-AMG Team Winward. “These are the stickers, those tapes that adhere to the pit wall.”
Determining Unsafe Release Aisle
The location of the two markings is calculated precisely, according to Buschmann. “We define an aisle in which the lollipop must be down,” he continues. “Within this aisle, a normal release would ensure that we would enter the vehicle that is departing.”
This means that if an opposing vehicle is located between the first and second mark in the pit area, the release of their vehicle, according to Winward’s calculations, would guarantee an unsafe release, specifically according to DTM’s criteria. This category is the only one in the world where the fast lane has no priority if the vehicle is entirely in front of a rival when crossing the white line between the working lane and the fast lane.
The Role of the Lollipop
Another important aspect is that the well-known vehicle controller with his lollipop is solely responsible for indicating to the driver when a release would result in an unsafe release. “That’s why we also call him the traffic manager,” says Buschmann.
The lollipop remains down only if another vehicle is in the unsafe release aisle. It is not meant to show the driver when to start, as the driver sees their team and perceives when the stop has ended and can accelerate through the lowering of the vehicle, activated by the pneumatic jacks.
Advantages of the System
How does the Winward team calculate the two points for the aisle? “It can be calculated relatively easily using the average reaction time of the drivers, as each release is different,” explains Buschmann. However, there are also teams that push this to the limit.
“We could push it to the limits by calculating exactly to the point of unsafe release when the vehicle crosses the line. It means that we would keep the lollipop up except for the brief moment when this overlap occurs and the vehicle crosses that line. Some teams do this. We, however, prefer to play it safe.”
This also prevents two vehicles from running parallel in the pit area. “This is the great advantage of our system,” says Buschmann proudly. However, unsafe releases cannot be completely eliminated, even for the Mercedes-AMG team.
“As we mentioned, these are average values,” he explains. “If the vehicle drops and the driver is asleep – or the clutch fails or whatever – then everything is in vain.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_fe33b59ba467dd1836c930c43a2a87dc23940588