20/04/2012
NEWS STORY
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Mat Coch writes:
Organisers of the Monaco Grand Prix have been kept busy resurfacing and redesigning ahead of the season's premier event.
Dominated by greats such as Graham Hill, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher, Monaco has become the iconic event of the Formula One calendar. However the race has not been without its share of safety concerns.
In 1994, just two weeks after the death of Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola, Sauber driver Karl Wendlinger was left in a coma after a practice accident at the Harbour Front chicane. Malaysian Grand Prix hero Sergio Perez was also forced to miss the race last year after a similar accident in qualifying ruled him out.
Ahead of this year's race, organisers have resurfaced a third of the circuit, from the famous tunnel exit to the Rascasse, while bumps on the approach to the Harbour Front chicane have been smoothed and the wall at the chicane into which Perez crashed pushed back more than 14 metres.
Elsewhere a more abrasive run off area has been laid outside Mirabeau while more noticeable changes have been made to the to the pit lane exit, which has been doubled in width to allow for a faster exit.
The suites used by teams have also had a revamp with glass having been removed from windows, inclement weather clearly not a concern to the organisers this year.
Tyre barriers have also been removed at Ste Devote and the Swimming Pool in favour of the latest high tech TekPro barriers.
The Principality hosts its 70th Grand Prix in late May when it hosts the sixth round of the 2012 championship.