FIA instructs re-location of tyre barriers at Sepang

The FIA has instructed Sepang International Circuit (SIC) to undertake some minor works to improve parts of the guard rails and tyre barriers within the circuit for the upcoming 2007 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

FIA Safety Delegate Charlie Whiting, who conducted the pre-event track inspection with officials from AAM and SIC, also instructed the circuit to close both the North Track and South Track entrances before the F1 Team Official Testing tomorrow.

“It is always a pleasure to come to a circuit that is in a perfect condition. However, I have ask them do some minor works for the race,” said Whiting, who is also the Race Director for the 2007 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

To be held from 6th to 8th April, the ninth edition of the Malaysian F1 race will be the second round of the 2007 Formula One World Championship, which opened in Australia last weekend with Kimi Raikkonen winning in his Ferrari debut.

The teams, which had arrived at the circuit since last Thursday, will conduct a three-day official test beginning tomorrow, which would be their first ever testing session in Sepang since the establishment of SIC in 1999.

Explaining further on the FIA comments, SIC Track Manager Kumarasamy Chellapan said that the FIA Safety Delegate directed for some of the tyre barriers to be located to their previous locations to close both the North and South track entrances.

“As you know, we occasionally used half tracks for events. It is now just a case of putting them back in their original locations as specified by the FIA,” said Kumarasamy, adding that it was only a minor job that could be completed ‘very quickly,

“He also asked us to make sure that all the screws on the guard rails to be tightened up. Other than that he said everything else was perfect,” Kumarasamy added.

A unique 3 in 1 racing track, the 5.543-km circuit could be either be used in full or just around its 2.706-km North Track or its southern half that also runs about 2.7 kilometers.

For the 2007 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, SIC had also carried out upgrading of the drainage system at Turn 3, resurfacing a 400-meter stretch between Turn 3 and Turn 4, replacement of pit wall glass with debris fences as well various refurbishment of facilities within the pit building.