12/04/2012
NEWS STORY
The FIA has confirmed that there will be one DRS zone at the Shanghai International Circuit for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.
While there were two activation zones in Melbourne for the season opener, in China, as was the case in Malaysia three weeks ago, there will be just one zone.
As in 2011, the detection zone is in Turn 12, with the activation zone beginning just over a third of the way down the back straight leading to Turn 14.
Changes to the track for this year's event see the grass bordering the track around turns 1, 2 and 6 having been replaced with asphalt which has been painted green using an approved non-slip paint. Also, the tyre barrier to the drivers' right in the pit entry has been fitted with a conveyor belt retaining system.
The stewards this weekend are Emanuele Pirro, who enjoyed a three-season Formula 1 career between 1989 to 1991, firstly with Benetton and then for Scuderia Italia. He subsequently spent four years as a test driver for McLaren.
He has subsequently achieved a huge amount of success, most notably in Sportscar racing, with five Le Mans wins, victory at the Daytona 24 Hours and two wins at the Sebring 12 Hours. In addition he has won the German and Italian Touring Car championships (the latter twice) and has twice been American Le Mans Series Champion.
Pirro, who made his debut as an FIA Steward at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, is joined at Shanghai by Garry Connelly - Executive Committee Member of the FIA Institute, Director of the Australian Institute of Motor Sport and FIA World Motor Sport Council member - and Vincenzo Spano - President of the Sporting Commission of the Automobile and Touring Club of Venezuela. All three officiated here in 2011.
To check out the official circuit map, click here.