NEWS
A revised kerbing at the final section of the Ford Chicane at Circuit de la Sarthe has received universal support by drivers
The section of track which leads onto the start-finish straight, has been primarily introduced to stop GTE drivers jumping the kerb at the second apex in in an attempt to straighten the corner for a better exit.
Aston Martin Racing’s was Darren Turner was also complimentary of the changes.
"I prefer it because it stops cheating and they've actually done a very nice job on the right-hand apex," said Turner. "The part you run is quite high and the bit next to it is so high that you don't want to go near it, so people aren't going to be jumping straight across anymore."
Karun Chandhok believes the changes will make life easier for LMP2 drivers which are generally faster around corners but struggle to pass the GTE cars on the straights.
"Before a GTE car could go through there a gear higher than us, which meant we wouldn't be able to pass before the Dunlop Chicane… Now we can pass the GTs on the front straight."" said Chandok.
Aston Martin driver Allan Simonsen's tragic death in last year's 24 Hour race has sparked a wave of safety initiatives around la Sarthe. In particular the barriers outside of Tertre Rouge (where Simonsen crashed) that used to rest along a line of trees have been moved 1.5 metres forward and had tyre barriers incorporated.
In addition the gravel trap has been extended at the exit of the Porsche Curves.
Plans to increase the gravel at the right hander at the start of the famous sequence have been delayed, but the tyre barriers have been increased from four to six layers and a Techpro safety system installed in front of them.
Race organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, Vincent Beaumesnil said "We have spent a lot of time and money improving the circuit for this year, and we will continue to do so."