The Autódromo José Carlos Pace circuit in Interlagos is set for safety changes following an unfortunate accident which killed stock car driver Gustavo Sondermann on Sunday.
The country’s motor racing federation Confederacao Brasileira de Automobilismo (CBA) has asked the FIA to advise them on changes needed to improve safety following the accident.
“Today I have asked the FIA to send a safety inspector,” CBA president Clayton Pinteiro told Agencia Estado.
A similar accident happened in 2007 at the same corner, Curva do Cafe. The installation of ‘softwall’ barriers hasn’t solved the issue, hinting that major track layout improvements are needed.
“We have not found a solution to improve so now races will start with a yellow flag in that stretch.
“I think there is no other recourse than the expansion of the run-off area for this corner.”
That would involve the demolition of permanent grandstands to expand the run-off area which is almost non-existent on that particular corner. Any changes would require authorisation from the local authority as well as homologation from the FIA – without which would deem their F1 race license void.
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