22/01/2008
NEWS STORY
Organisers at the Circuit de Catalunya, which hosts the Spanish Grand Prix, have revealed further modifications to the track as a result of new safety measures required by the FIA and the FIM for the annual homologation of the layout, a requirement that all international circuits in the current calendar must fulfil.
The modifications are the result of a report submitted by Charlie Whiting from the FIA and Claude Danis from the FIM. Explaining them, Ramon Praderas, General Director of the Circuit, said: "These improvements are being carried out in complete unanimity thanks to the excellent relationship of the RACC sports director and Circuit advisor, Aman Barfull, with Mr. Whiting and Mr. Danis.
"At the Circuit de Catalunya, we appreciate the fact that both entities provided suggestions on how to improve our track, specifically to maintain the standard of maximum security for the riders and drivers. Although the modifications may seem scarce, we have sacrificed days of track activities to work on the circuit as required by our philosophy - which is to be one of the best."
It was also revealed that the pit lane is being re-paved, something that was not performed in 2005 when the entire track underwent a complete asphalt makeover. The area where the National track joins the Grand Prix track will also be paved.
F1 testing at Barcelona gets underway on February 1, with two more tests in February and another in April, just a week ahead of the Spanish GP, which gets underway on April 27th.
The changes are as follows: