Roll cages are an essential feature in many motorsports vehicles. Some motorsports even make them compulsory for all race teams to reduce driver and co-driver injury on the track. But how do roll cages protect race car drivers?

Roll cages are specially designed cage-like metal frames built into the cabin of motorsports vehicles. They protect drivers by preventing the cabin from crushing during a crash, and especially during rollovers. The roll cage gets its rigidity thanks to the welded steel tubing that forms its structure and the geometric shapes with which that structure is designed.

Keep reading this article to discover what roll cages are and how they protect your favourite race car drivers on the track!

What Is A Roll Cage?

A roll cage is a specially designed cage-like metal frame built into the vehicle’s cabin. The primary purpose of the cage is to protect the occupants inside the vehicle from serious injury during a crash.

The roll cage achieves that goal by preventing the car from crushing in on itself as it rolls. So that’s where the term ‘roll’ in ‘roll cage’ originates.

Roll cages can either be bolted or welded into the car’s frame. Bolting it in makes installation a lot cheaper and easier. However, welding the roll cage in makes it much more robust as it becomes part of the car’s structure permanently.

For some vehicles, the cage is built on the outside of the car’s cabin instead of inside. It serves the same purpose. However, when it’s built on the outside, it becomes known as an ‘exo cage’ instead.

What Is A Roll Cage Made Of?

In most cases, a roll cage is made of welded steel tubing. This material helps the roll cage to maintain its rigidity even during a crash and rollover, thereby fulfilling its purpose in protecting the vehicle’s occupants.

Are Roll Cages Mandatory For Motorsports?

Some motorsports make it mandatory for all vehicles to include roll cages. That will reduce the likelihood of injury or death should there be an accident on the track.

What Are The Benefits Of A Roll Cage?

Roll cages offer plenty of distinct benefits that not only save race car drivers (and their co-drivers in rallying) but also offer performance advantages as well.

Let’s take a closer look at each of those benefits.

Intrusion Protection

The first and most evident benefit of using a roll cage is known as ‘intrusion protection’. When the race car gets into an accident and starts to roll over, the rigid roll cage will prevent the vehicle cabin from crushing inwards and hurting the driver.

Depending on the quality of the roll cage and the intensity of the crash, the roll cage will continue to provide intrusion protection even though the vehicle rolls multiple times.

Reduced Weight

The use of roll cages also makes racecars much lighter. Remember: roll cages are typically installed on the interior of the vehicle. That means any unnecessary items in the interior must be removed to accommodate the roll cage.

Generally, that means removing things like the backseat, and in some cases, the front passenger seat as well. One exception is for race teams that require two people, such as rallying, which requires a driver and navigator to sit in the vehicle simultaneously.

Stability

The rigidity provided by the roll cage doesn’t just benefit the race car during a crash and rollover. That rigidity also provides the race vehicle with added stability throughout the race itself.

To understand where that rigidity comes from, it’s essential to look closely at how roll cages are designed. Not only do the welded steel tubing keep the frame rigid, but it also comes as a result of the shapes in which that tubing is arranged.

When examining the roll cage structure, you’ll find that some sections arrange the welded steel tubing in triangular shapes. Triangles and other geometric shapes are known for providing any structure with additional rigidity. 

Improved Handling 

By keeping the vehicle rigid, the roll cages also help keep race car drivers safe by providing them with better vehicle handling. But why does that happen?

The rigid cage prevents the chassis from flexing too much, and the suspension can do a much better job at keeping the car’s wheels on the ground.

You see, when the race car takes a corner, the chassis will flex and affect the vehicle’s alignment. A rigid roll cage minimises this significantly.

What Are The Dangers Of A Roll Cage?

Despite how roll cages offer plenty of benefits for motorsports vehicles, they do pose some distinct dangers as well. Some roll cages fail to protect the vehicle and its occupants during a crash and rollover. Worse still, some roll cages themselves become the source of injury to the driver.

Let’s take a closer look at those dangers posed by roll cages to race car drivers.

Some Roll Cages Cause Injuries

Like any other car part, you can also find roll cages made from inferior or even counterfeit materials.

In some cases, the fault might be with the driver or motorsports team themselves. For instance, a team might cut corners or try to save money by using low-quality material when building their roll cage. 

On top of that, some might also spend less on quality workmanship to ensure that the roll cage is installed correctly in the vehicle.

While doing that might save some money in the short term, it can be pretty deadly to the driver inside. For example, during an accident or a rollover, parts of the roll cage might break off and hit or impale the driver inside.

Some Roll Cages Fail To Protect The Vehicle

Whether the roll cage is made from high quality or inferior materials, there will always be limits to how much protection it can offer. Even the most robust roll cages will fail to protect the vehicle if the crash and rollover are too intense.

That’s why race car drivers still wear protective gear like helmets when driving the car instead of relying entirely on the roll cage to protect them.

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