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Source: The following is excerpted from an Autosport.com post by Matt Kew on the recent brake-related Formula E (FE) accident. Apparently, the brake-by-wire system utilized in all Formula E racecars leaked in the affected vehicle, resulting in the front brakes not functioning at the time of the crash and the FIA wants some answers before the next race.
DIRIYAH, Saudi Arabia — The FIA has asked all Formula E teams to review the causes and effects of possible failures to their braking system following the Diriyah E-Prix crash that hospitalized Edoardo Mortara.
Venturi Racing driver Mortara was taken for precautionary checks after a brake-by-wire (BBW) system fault caused him to crash heavily following a practice start in Saudi Arabia.
Related post:
LSP Readies Formula E Brake-by-Wire Systems
As a result, both Mercedes-Benz and the cars of customer team Venturi Racing were not allowed to compete in qualifying but were later cleared to start the Sunday night race.
Ahead of the Rome E-Prix double-header, the FIA has asked all teams to check the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) of their braking system.
A bulletin from technical delegate Laurent Arnaud read: “Especially if the driver loses the front brake for any reason (leakage, calliper issue), the system must be able to detect that and activate the rear braking (regen or BBW actuation).”
In Mortara’s crash, the brake pedal was fully depressed, but the front brakes were recorded at zero pressure which was likely the result of a possible leak.
The statement continued: “In the chassis supplier common package, [teams] have the displacement travel sensor from the tandem brake master cylinder.
The FIA clarified that the root cause of the Mortara shunt had not yet been fully identified but “for the time being there is no concern on the chassis common parts”.
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This suggests Mortara’s crash was an isolated incident, despite Mercedes works driver Nyck de Vries appearing to suffer a similar issue that caused him to retire from the Mexico City race last season.
That followed a BBW failure for Daniel Abt during practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez, which required the former Audi driver to be taken to hospital via helicopter.
To view the entire post, click HERE.
