01/03/2012
NEWS STORY
The FIA's Race Director and Safety Delegate, Charlie Whiting, has rejected a call from the teams to reduce the speed limit in the pitlane during races.
Currently, the speed limit in the pitlane during Grands Prix is 100 kph (62.13 mph), and 60 kph (37.2 mph) during all practice sessions. However, following an incident during a Sports Car race in Belgium last year when a car suffered brake failure as it approached its pit, resulting in the death of a mechanic, the teams called for the speed limit during Grands Prix to be reduced.
Rejecting the move, Whiting said that the Sports Car incident was due to a mechanical failure as opposed to excessive speed. However, other than the fact that the reduced speed limit could impact strategies it was also felt that cars heading down the pitlane at 60 kph during races would appear slow.
Despite rejecting the call, Whiting's remit allows him to advise race stewards to lower the speed limit during races if he feels there is a safety issue.