10 fastlane
techtorque
HOW TO CHOOSE
THE CORRECT
HANS
DEVICE
The HANS Device has
been around since the
early 1980s but gained
notoriety following the
death of Dale Earnhardt
in 2001. The U-shaped
head and neck restraint
was developed to
keep the head from
whipping forward and
backward during a
crash. The idea was to
prevent fractures (basal
fractures) at the base
of the skull as the head
is launched forward
during accidents.
Before Earnhardt’s death, many
motorsports drivers weren’t willing
to wear the head and neck restraint,
claiming it was uncomfortable and
restrictive. NASCAR made the HANS
Device mandatory in 2001, followed
by the NHRA and Formula 1 in 2003.
ANDRA made the frontal head
restraints mandatory in 2015 for all
cars quicker than 7.99 seconds.
ANDRA accepts any head and neck
restraint that meets the SFI 38.1, FIA
8858-2002 or FIA 8858-2010 standards
(see page 244 of the 2016/2017 ANDRA
Rulebook). Still, the HANS Device is
the most recognised and trusted
head and neck restraint and has even
earned praise from racers who once
refused to wear it. Whether you’re a
pro or sportsman class racer, a HANS
Device could save you from serious
or possibly fatal head and neck
injuries. We’ve put together this
guide for choosing a HANS Device.