Self-Discovery: The Importance of Practice in Growth

Ensuring a safe return home is paramount, and honing your skills is essential. Self-extraction from your vehicle is a vital ability that all competitors should work on.

Sunil Vohra, the CEO of Motorsport Australia, clarifies that the recent regulations aren’t about enforcing self-extraction tests, but rather about equipping drivers with the necessary skills to exit their vehicles efficiently when it’s crucial.

“Engaging in self-extraction drills allows competitors to practise in a secure setting, where mistakes are a part of the learning process,” Vohra stated.

“Data from these tests shows that our members improve their extraction times significantly through regular practice.

“Practise can truly make a difference in emergency scenarios.

“Our aim is to ensure that every driver becomes proficient in self-extraction, so ideally, the first time they have to do it isn’t during a real crisis when every second counts.”

Vohra, who competes at the state level, has also participated in the testing himself.

“Following a race at Phillip Island last year, I was invited to the scrutineering area to undergo self-extraction testing,” he recounted.

“It’s quite challenging to swiftly manoeuvre out of the car after an hour-long race, but I managed to do it in roughly eight seconds.”

“However, I wasn’t attempting it for the first time. I’ve practised self-extraction before, and as with others, the data indicates that practice leads to improved speed. That’s the aim. It’s not about trying to catch anyone off guard or sending them home.”

Motorsport Australia’s self-extraction tests form part of the sport’s risk management strategies, designed for a discipline that inherently carries risks. Practise is crucial in enhancing the skills that are vital during incidents.

The main focus of self-extraction should be on the intention—motivating competitors to practise exiting their vehicles in under ten seconds. It’s about refining the skills that truly matter during critical moments.

To learn more, visit the Self-Extraction Policy.