Korean GP 2010 - Yeongam

[PlatinumZealot]

Low grip conditions will separate the good from the best.. Perfect conditions for a Hamilton win!

A quote from Hermann Tilke

"The only problem it [the new surface] will cause – and to me that is not actually a problem – is in terms of grip," explained Tilke. "A lack of grip should not be a problem because we have the best drivers in the world here. Plus, it will be the same conditions for everybody. There will not a problem that the track will break-up.

"I think on Friday the track surface will be very, very slippery because it is brand new. That means you will probably see some spinning. And, it will not be easy to find the set-up for Saturday and Sunday because the track will change a lot.

"That means some drivers will make the wrong set-up choice, because you are going to have to second guess what is the right way to go."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87544

[forty-two]

Well, I know precisely nothing about the physics of newly laid Tarmac, but it occurs to me that when I've accidentally stepped on freshly laid sections of road, it's tacky. In some cases, I'd go so far as to say sticky.

Surely if that is the case come the weekend, we could see some very interesting behaviour?

To any that missed it, I started this comment with a disclaimer, I know precisely nothing about the physics of newly laid Tarmac!

[WhiteBlue]

Alan Jones will join the stewards' panel for the inaugural Korean Grand Prix this weekend.

The 1980 Formula 1 world champion will be the latest drivers' representative to advise officials over a grand prix weekend, a role already undertaken this year by fellow former champions Emerson Fittipaldi, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill.

After securing the first drivers' world championship for Williams, Jones briefly retired from F1 following the 1981 season before returning to drive a string of uncompetitive cars for the now-defunct Arrows in 1983 and Team Haas in 1985-86.

During the 1990s, the Aussie competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship, making several notable appearances in the Bathurst 1000.

Perfect for Webber to have an Aussie in charge of the driver steward job in a crucial race.

[forty-two]

Perfect for Webber to have an Aussie in charge of the driver steward job in a crucial race.

What do you mean WB?

Surely you're not suggesting that someone would favour a driver just because of their nationality?

Seriously though, this could be interesting.

[forty-two]

The following has been posted on TwitPic by @VirginRacing


Is it just me, or are there no catch fences between the start/finish straight and the grandstand in this image?

[WhiteBlue]

I can clearly see the catch fencing. It is the same design as on the other side. Only you have a different perspective from a very low camera stand point.

[forty-two]

I can clearly see the catch fencing. It is the same design as on the other side. Only you have a different perspective from a very low camera stand point.

I can see a fence approximately the same height as the smaller of the two forklifts, but I don't see the higher one which is normally there too.

Take a Webber vs Kovaleinen incident at the wrong angle there and you've got an F1 car heading into a crowded grandstand (if indeed they've managed to sell any tickets!).

[WhiteBlue]

Perfect for Webber to have an Aussie in charge of the driver steward job in a crucial race.

What do you mean WB?

Surely you're not suggesting that someone would favour a driver just because of their nationality?

Seriously though, this could be interesting.

It never hurts to have a sympathetic judge when it comes to matters of opinion. How often this season the stewards had to decide between a racing incident and punishment for an avoidable accident? Last time for Webber was only two races ago when he collided with Hamilton. A friendly judge can be handy in such situations.

[WhiteBlue]

I can clearly see the catch fencing. It is the same design as on the other side. Only you have a different perspective from a very low camera stand point.

I can see a fence approximately the same height as the smaller of the two forklifts, but I don't see the higher one which is normally there too.

Take a Webber vs Kovaleinen incident at the wrong angle there and you've got an F1 car heading into a crowded grandstand (if indeed they've managed to sell any tickets!).

I still think that you are fooled by a matter of perspective. Charlie inspected the place and the first thing he would realize would be a catch fence violation. Same goes for Tilke btw. He was in Korea last week and he knows track regulations inside out.

Regarding spectators we will probably see many local motor heads and not so many international visitors. It also looks like the grand stands are behind schedule and will offer a lot less capacity than the planned 130,000. If they get 50,000 or 60,000 visitors they probably have a very good result for a new track.

[forty-two]

I still think that you are fooled by a matter of perspective. Charlie inspected the place and the first thing he would realize would be a catch fence violation. Same goes for Tilke btw. He was in Korea last week and he knows track regulations inside out.

Regarding spectators we will probably see many local motor heads and not so many international visitors. It also looks like the grand stands are behind schedule and will offer a lot less capacity than the planned 130,000. If they get 50,000 or 60,000 visitors they probably have a very good result for a new track.

If you take a look at the following image from Silverstone (2006 I think) then you'll see that the fencing to the right of the image (the driver's left hand side) is not only set back from the tarmac, but also approximately twice an average person's height (using the people standing by the fence as a reference).

The image from Yeong-Am however appears to show a fence which is significantly lower than this.

I agree that CW and HT know the rules, but given the delays in construction of this circuit, and the political embarrasment which would doubtless ensue if the race were to be cancelled, I wonder if they've been quite as stringent as they might otherwise have been?

[Tim.Wright]

Perfect for Webber to have an Aussie in charge of the driver steward job in a crucial race.

Believe it or not, some people are able to demonstrate objectiveness.

[Mysticf1]

fence seems ok in this shot

[forty-two]

fence seems ok in this shot

Agreed, the fence you can see in that shot doesn't look as bad, but the fence I was talking about (i.e. the one between the track and the grandstand) is only vaguely visible in this image.

Hey, maybe it is a trick of perspective, or my eyes, or both. It just looks a bit lower than I would have expected.

[andrew]

fence seems ok in this shot

Someone has screwed the snagging. Where are the gird slotts?!

Doesn't look too good:
http://www.totalf1.com/full_story/view/ ... avourable/

Then there are the concerns over the tarmac, which should be ok if the spec is right and it has been lain properly then there is the unpredicable weather with typhoon Megi making accurate prediction impossible. Might be an interseting Tilke-drome at last!

[ESPImperium]

I was doing some "blue sky" thinking and was kind of thinking that if theres gonna be less grip in Korea, could some drivers (more like one) take a total stab in the dark and go with Inters for the first stint, then posibly go with the option tyre???

Could wet weather tyres be they way to go???