Adelaide Turn 8 - the Dunlop Sweeper

[Forbesy]

I drove through this part of the cicruit the other day (just before it was closed to traffic) and I noticed that they have, yet again, changed the 'dunlop sweeper' (turn 8). As the following pic illustrates, they've moved the inside concrete wall back onto the grass, and have stuck armco guard railing along the gutter line. This is obviously a move to open up visibility which has always been a problem here since they changed the corner back in 2002.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rus...&.dnm=7d5f.jpg

No doubt this will create more discussion as drivers/teams become aware of the new layout.

Interesting to see how it goes, I can't say I've ever seen something like this done before. Thoughts?

[ford boy]

Since the introduction of that corner, i think its more dangerous than it was originally. a number of high speed crashes have happened since then, Radisich, Seton, Ellery, Jason Bright,and Geoff Full and even in the saloon cars there was about a 10 car pile up.If a car dumps oil thru there it would be catistrophic.

[Average Punter]

Shame really. I stood at that corner last year and it was magic! Had to be the only corner in Australia where you could be so close to the cars while they were at any decent speed.

Would be still a little hard to pick an apex though wouldn't it? Just looking at that photo reminds me of Bargs' shunt in the HYL car at Bathurst a few years ago. Touch the armco on the apex and watch out!

[twig]

i didnt mind the Dunlop sweeper last year...and of course..the year before that..... but this is interesting.

The corner before was a challenge, but it was also dangerous. Sure - there was no room for error, but at that speed, i think you need one.

I am not sure of how much space there was on the exit wall on the left of the old sweeper there was, but perhaps they could have put the wall about 1 or 2 metres back, to the left, and put a ripple strip where the wall was, maybe it would be a safer challenge.

At least they are both better than the putrid original corner.

[00 XR8]

Are you sure that they won't take that armco away before Thursday? It just looks a little odd to me. I was looking at bits of the circuit on Saturday but I didn't really get a good look at turn 8.

Thanks for the pics.

[Crash Test]

The old concrete wall would snot you into the outside wall, what would gaurdrail do? If you hit it hard enough and it moves, what would be the consequences?

Spook, care to comment?

[mmciau]

This matter was raised yesterday at:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=51412

Mike

[spook]

Thanks Crash !!.

It seems totally weird that you would install 2 high guardrail at a circuit where F3 are racing this weekend?

I cannot see the logic in this installation.

The wall is fine, take away the guardrail, put a proper apex kerb (like at QR), and even the V8's won't cut the corner and you will have your line of sight for F3 as well as the taxi's. The guardrail is probably Tim's solution to kerb hopping - a totally over-the-top solution, typical.

[Arai GP5]

Like Mmciau said, see the other link for more informed discussion.

A kerb would be best, but the road kerb behind that armco is ENORMOUS - to cover it with a kerb would see the drivers revolt Bathurst 2002 style - as the kerb would be about 250mm high!!!