Imola renovations to expand pits
Imola is set to re-vamp its facilities, widening the cramped pit lane and improving team garages.
Picture: Toyota F1
Imola is to build a much-needed new pit and paddock facilities as it bids to keep its Formula One race.
Work is to begin at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in October as part of a $12 million project. The Variante Bassa chicane will be removed, creating an uninterrupted run from the second Rivazza curve to the Tamburello chicane.
"I want to point out that Imola's current pits are not crumbling or unsafe, just narrow. If we want our circuit to have a future we must get in line with what Bernie indicates to us, otherwise there's the risk that in two year's time there won't be a GP here anymore,” track president Federico Bendinelli told the Italian Autosprint magazine.
“Getting rid of Variante Bassa is an old idea of ours. Back in 1994, having made the Tamburello section safer following Senna's accident, the circuit became substantially slower and we thought of eliminating Variante Bassa. But we didn't do it because we made the chicane a little faster. Now we can reset the right parameters."
Imola's current contract to host the San Marino Grand Prix runs until 2009.
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