[LM24] The new look at Arnage corner

[batmobile]

It's only the beginning, they have cut all the trees along the track and inside the property. Now, they are working on the sub networks especially electricity before installing the gravel trap. Next pictures to come during the works.

[Steve Tarrant]

[GTfour]

What the... Will they ever stop tempering with the track? What's next? Cutting away all the trees on the inside of Arnage so the drivers can see around the corner?

[Victor_RO]

With new gravel, Arnage is going to be Puncture City this year. I wonder how many dozens of left-rear tires are going to get shredded over race week...

[Adam43]

Thanks for posting. As we expected there still isn't much run off on the exit. Not that it needs it.

[Andrew Rast]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

With new gravel, Arnage is going to be Puncture City this year. I wonder how many dozens of left-rear tires are going to get shredded over race week...

Correct. I can't really imagine the travesty. It seems like all people do to racing and race tracks is hurt them! John Watson said it about Zolder, they're planning to do it to Brands Hatch, and now this. For the name of "safety". Maybe they're going to race all electric cars that go 40 MPH next year.

*Big breath* Still, nice pics, Steve.

[GT6]

Well I know they were changing it but that looks like they butchered it rather than make a small adjustment

[Adam43]

Er, I'm obviously not looking at the pictures correctly. What has they done. Gravel on the inside and a small change to the run off and barriers on the exit?

[Simmi]

Probably one of the first things I'll do on arrival is head down there and check it out.

[Andrew Rast]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Er, I'm obviously not looking at the pictures correctly. What has they done. Gravel on the inside and a small change to the run off and barriers on the exit?

I say they should just leave the track be.

In my mind, it isn't the visual changes that make the difference. I think the bad part is that it sort of ruins the culture of the corner. I may be completely crazy, but that's my opinion.

[Steve Tarrant]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Er, I'm obviously not looking at the pictures correctly. What has they done. Gravel on the inside and a small change to the run off and barriers on the exit?

Photos are both of the outside, shot from the inside of the corner, where the tyre wall was previously close to the track edge.

[tonypowe]

It looks like a gravel trap on the outside of the corner (think you can see where the road goes off behind it out of the car park) and then more fencing on the left hand side as they pull away from the corner - maybe they are going to open these up as viewing areas in the future?
So cars will end up in the gravel trap and have to be pulled out rather than punting into the barrier if they get the corner wrong. Is that really safer? Not for the marshalls I wouldn't think.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Andrew Rast

I say they should just leave the track be.

In my mind, it isn't the visual changes that make the difference. I think the bad part is that it sort of ruins the culture of the corner. I may be completely crazy, but that's my opinion.

I agree no changes needed, but I'm trying gauge how outraged to be. I don't do outrage for he sake of it.

Originally Posted by Steve Tarrant

Photos are both of the outside, shot from the inside of the corner, where the tyre wall was previously close to the track edge.

Thank you I've been a punter not a marshal there so I haven't actually seen it rom that angle. Well I did park there one year a day after.

Originally Posted by tonypowe

So cars will end up in the gravel trap and have to be pulled out rather than punting into the barrier if they get the corner wrong. Is that really safer? Not for the marshalls I wouldn't think.

Well we have a marshal round here to comment on the last bit. Dragging a car out if a barrier or gravel trap, probably has a similar level of risk.
However I do think it is safer for the driver.

[Bodysnatcher]

There may be something in the idea of turning the exit of the corner into a spectator area. They've certainly destroyed the existing hedge/boundary of the house that's there. Totally removed any privacy and, although the lens will foreshorten the view, it looks like very little garden left between the house and the fence.

Also if you look at the first photograph, inside the chainlink fence there's the standard spectator fence of the scaffolding poles at waist height.

We'll see soon enough.

Can they demolish a house in 4 weeks?

[Aysedasi]

I just can't see that this has been done on safety grounds. Accidents there are generally a minor nerf into the tyres, no more. I assume this is a 'public' venture, and not the householder looking to make some money somehow? (Sounds daft I know, but I just don't understand the rationale for this.....)

[Adam43]

I agree accidents are usually just a silly nerf there, but I suspect it is for safety. Just very safe safety!
Do something for the spectators? Now that would be unprecedented. Thinking of Indianapolis I think the actual expression is do something to the spectators.

You see I can be outraged.

[Steve Tarrant]

[IMG][/IMG]

This was the same area in 2011, so there will be those that say any extra space gained to escape is better than none at all.

From a marshalling perspective, I'd say it is not a lot different to what they were doing last year. No-one will be placed directly behind the barrier, they are either stationed drivers left (from where shot was taken) or right approaching the corner, and those on left will still have to run around the corner to deal with any cars that stop.

The one thing it might improve is allowing more to escape on their own, and stop blocking the outside of the track, when fast cars swing around the corner to a blindish exit at their speed.

I agree with others that change for change sake is not the way forward, but judging by the number of one car incidents there that seem to draw in 2nd and more cars, I can see why the ACO have done this.

"Bring back Maison Blanc!"

[Simmi]

I'm thinking along the same lines as Ayse in that, if I owned that property, I would be charging an absolute packet to let people stand in my garden and get a pretty amazing view. One thing that won't affect us folk at the race so much is maybe it opens up scope for a brand new camera position at Arnage?

That in itself would be sacrilege!

[Peat]

Does the ACO get government cash that they 'need' to spend or something? There seems to be no logical reason why they need to change the run-off there, it's a what, 30mph apex?

Adding a gravel trap will make it alot worse. I'll wager that we'll have a safety car during the night when a car understeers and gets stuck in there and needs dragging out.

[Andrew Rast]

Originally Posted by Adam43

I agree accidents are usually just a silly nerf there, but I suspect it is for safety. Just very safe safety!
Do something for the spectators? Now that would be unprecedented. Thinking of Indianapolis I think the actual expression is do something to the spectators.

You see I can be outraged.

Good one. I am known for my ranting.

But back to my original point, it will be a puncture fest down there. Like we don't have enough of that already!

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by Simmi

I'm thinking along the same lines as Ayse in that, if I owned that property, I would be charging an absolute packet to let people stand in my garden and get a pretty amazing view. One thing that won't affect us folk at the race so much is maybe it opens up scope for a brand new camera position at Arnage?

That in itself would be sacrilege!

I suspect that spectators won't be allowed in the area immediately behind the fencing. Look what they did to the spectator area at the approach to Indianapolis when they built the gravel trap. The enclosure there was moved back so far that binoculars are almost needed to see the cars approaching from Mulsanne

Similarly, spectators aren't allowed on the inside of the circuit behind the fencing that guards the exit to Indianapolis.

Whatever the pros and cons of building the new gravel trap, it makes sense not to allow any spectators in a direct line with the cars' direction of travel.

[Steve Tarrant]

[Adam43]

Cool photo, thanks for sharing.