Interlagos set for 2012 changes

Wed, 23 Nov 20:15:00 2011

Interlagos looks set for a major revamp for 2012 as part of safety improvements being made in the wake of fatal accidents earlier this year.

Formula One drivers line up on the starting grid as part of a practice session at the Interlagos racetrack - 0

Track officials have been pondering re-designing the run out of the last corner, as well as the pitlane entry, after two drivers were killed in separate stock car accidents.

Paulo Kunze and Gustavo Sondermann both died in April after crashes on the long start-finish straight - which is narrow and has small run-off areas considering its high-speed.

At the time it was hoped that improvements would be made in time for this year's Brazilian Grand Prix, but it now looks likely that major modifications will come for next year instead.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting said: "There are a couple of minor changes to the circuit [for this weekend] but next year there could be something much bigger: we're hoping to build a new pit entry and a larger run-off around the last corner, but this is a big job as it will require removing a couple of permanent grandstands.

"We've had assurances from the city of Sao Paulo that they'll support this project."

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  1. i agree... do what needs to be done to make it safer­ but please don't change the track design or the­ character of the place it's one of the last old­ school tracks. It's one of the best tracks in the­ world.

    From liamhuskyhodgins, on Thu 24 Nov 3:40AM

  2. Dont understand why ecclestone the pitlane muppet­ doesn't slate this place like he does Silverstone,­ its a boghole and needs tearing up bigtime, lethal­ pitlane entry and the first corner is a disaster­ waiting to happen add to this drop of rain and all hell­ breaks loose

    From L, on Wed 23 Nov 9:01PM

  3. I agree for the pit entry but I can`t agree that there­ aren`t enough space around pit straight.For me the most­ dangerous thing is completely blind pit exit in Monaco­ and the absolutely wrong Korea in and out of the­ pits.......

    From Afanasii Mladenov, on Wed 23 Nov 8:54PM

  4. Changing the pit entry is a good idea. The cars are­ almost flat out by the time they reach it so if a car­ had dodgy brakes .......!!!

    From COLIN B, on Wed 23 Nov 8:21PM
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