First traffic circles in Formula 1 this year

All-round consultancy and engineering firm Prommenz has had the opportunity to work secretly on a special assignment over the past period; the first traffic circle in Formula 1. Cor Klaassen (managing director Prommenz) on this project: 'Safety and sustainability are of paramount importance to us and our clients. We have seen for some time that this is also getting more and more attention in the racing industry and of course we were immediately more than enthusiastic when they approached us with this assignment'.

Our infra, space & development, environment and survey teams started months ago to design the first possible solutions for more sustainable and safer racing. What made the whole thing extra complex is that we also wanted to make the racing itself more interesting. After much preliminary research, several 3D models and a number of small-scale real life tests, the traffic circle emerged time and again as the most effective solution. A traffic circle causes drivers to have to slow down. This reduces CO2 emissions by 8% per lap. In addition, a traffic circle requires drivers to give way to each other. A safer solution than trying to overtake each other just before the corner. Finally, a traffic circle brings many new strategic advantages. Now you have to overtake each other in completely different ways. This makes racing even more interesting to watch. The clients are especially enthusiastic about the seemingly very simple solution. Cor: "Complex issues often require a simple solution, so our fresh perspective on space helps with that.
From April 2023, the Dutch circuit will be the first with the traffic circles but interest in our solution has been shown internationally from several circuits, Cor Klaassen said. Want to know more about this special assignment? Then watch the video showing the first 3D impressions.

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