14/05/2008
NEWS STORY
 |
Organizers at the Istanbul Speed Park have said that all possible measures had been taken to ensure that stray dogs would not wander on to the track over the course of the recent race weekend, claiming that despite their best efforts a similar incident could happen again.
Their comments follow the announcement of an FIA enquiry into how two dogs were able to get on to the track, one of them being killed when it was in a collision with Bruno Senna in the GP2 race.
"This was a serious lapse in circuit security and safety," said an FIA spokesman following the incident. "How could such a thing happen at an almost brand new Formula One track?"
The organizers, Istanbul Park Organizasyon A.S., which is actually controlled by Bernie Ecclestone, who is effectively the race promoter, insist that they did everything possible.
"We take very seriously the matter of track safety," they told Reuters. "We took all possible measures to manage the problem and we cooperated with the FIA race director throughout the Grand Prix. We regret the incident involving Senna's car and we are far from complacent about it but, with the best will in the world, it isn't possible to eradicate the problem altogether."
They claim that the canine problem has nothing to do with the newness of the track but its location.
"Unfortunately they are more noticeably prevalent at the circuit during the grand prix week, attracted we think by the various catering units that competitors bring with them. As in past years, the circuit operator took as many precautions as possible to police the 2,500,000 sqm circuit and its 8km perimeter with a team of vets on site to catch any dogs and to relocate them. But this is of itself a dangerous task because some of these dogs are feared to carry rabies and appropriate precautions need to be taken."
Organizers at the South Korea event, due to join the calendar in 2009, do not expect similar problems.