Savage Island circuit to be tamed with improvements
11/12/2000 18:09 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - Fast becoming Australia’s most dangerous racing facility, Phillip Island’s savage Grand Prix circuit will receive a safety-enhancing overhaul over summer ahead of the V8 Supercars’ late-March visit.
Recent victims of the Island’s 4.5km sweeping, undulating, breakneck layout will be satisfied to learn major improvements are planned for the circuit’s safety mechanisms, including extending and levelling critical run-off areas, and relocating concrete barriers.
Most recently, Glenn Seton spent a week in hospital and weeks out of racing action following a high-speed crash during a saturated test session at Phillip Island in late October.
CAMS CEO Peter Hansen said a number of horrific shunts in recent times meant it was time to act.
"While we always take into account isolated accidents, data obtained over a long period certainly assists when safety improvements are concerned,” Hansen said.
Run-off areas are the focus of the redevelopment, and will include the extension of gravel traps at turns two, three, eight and twelve.
Turn three will see extensive earthwork and the removal of the present tyre wall, providing an extra 60 metres of run-off area.
Turn eight will have its barrier moved back almost 25 metres, while the run-off area at turn nine will be extended. The final turn will receive an entry kerb prior to the corner.
All parties have come to agreement on the proposed enhancements, and work will begin the week before Christmas.
The Supercar circus rolls into the complex on the weekend of March 24-25. The Konica-backed V8 Supercar sister Series heads to Phillip Island in late May.
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