Thatcham is progressing a Safe Repair Project which aims to validate safety-critical structural repair methods on vehicles with composite materials.

Following replacement of the front chassis leg of a Vauxhall Astra, and the B posts of a Vauxhall Vectra and Volkswagen Golf, using repairs according to Escribe methods, the
vehicles were crash-tested with acceptable results.Thatcham will now continue to validate specific structural repair methods, reporting the results back to vehicle manufacturers and working closely with repairers, insurers and manufacturers to provide the Kitemarked repairer with a safe repair. 

Thatcham said it has not decided which cars will be tested next.