The FIA approves Formula 1's first Halo supplier

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton tests the halo cockpit protection device
© XPB 

The FIA has announced that Dutch company CP Tech has received certification as F1's first supplier of the mandatory Halo cockpit protection system.

A subsidiary of Dutch group Nedschroef, the company is a provider of ultra-strong components and solutions for the automotive and motorsport industry, and it will be included in the FIA Technical List n°62 - AFP-Halos according to FIA Standard 8869-2018.

During the Halo's crucial development process, CP tech successfully achieved the stringent requirements prescribed by the FIA Standard.

The first cockpit protection systems will be delivered to the teams of Formula 1 and Formula 2 in the beginning of 2018, and to Formula E for the Season 5 Championship starting in Q4 2018.

"We chose CP tech as one of our R&D partners as they were able to provide excellent engineered solutions," states Global Institute consultant Andy Mellor.

Thomas Casey, Managing Director of CP tech explains, "This project is a true recognition of our unique know-how expertise in the complex mechanical processing of titanium and additional materials.

"It is another lighthouse project that we can be proud of based on our experience of more than 25 years in the motorsport business".
Following a period of trialing with F1 teams last year, the sport's governing body made the Halo mandatory for 2018 in a bid to increase a car's resistance against small objects or flying debris.

The FIA stepped up its safety efforts to improve cockpit protection and limit the risk of head injuries following the tragic accidents of Jules Bianchi in F1 in 2014 and Justin Wilson in IndyCar in 2015.

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