2007 Catalunya

[olly83]

that really is pathetic. they might as well wrap the cars in duvets and bubble wrap and replace the engine with the motor from my flymo, then it would be really safe

[safc_fan89]

So why not just use that configuration for testing? I take it the proposal is to use it for the race as well.

And if F1 wants to be VERY safe...just scrap the championship! F1 has never been safer. I think if some of these drivers are not happy, they should go and find something else to do with their life. They are paid enough after all.

[Lustigson]

Not racing at all... that's safe.

[safc_fan89]

They may as well if they are going to remove the danger aspect totally.

[Lustigson]

These are two pics that were posted on a forum at Autosport.com (née Atlas F1):

http://www.circuitcat.com/fotosnoticias/070122049.jpg
http://www.circuitcat.com/fotosnoticias/070122044.jpg

[ScotsBrutesFan]

That chicane looks very narrow from the second pic.

[Lustigson]

I'd guess it's at least 15 m wide, judging from the first picture.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

perhaps I used the wrong word, I' sure it's the same width as the rest. THe word I should have used was tight.

[formula1fan]

So it's been done already! When I went there near the end of October last year, there was NO indication of construction work going on at all.

[f1freak]

Thanks for posting the pictures Lustigson.

formula1fan, they can build things so quickly these days, it's freaky. I think the guys at the Taupo track finished their changes in 3 weeks I heard?

[safc_fan89]

At least Moto GP is sticking with the original layout at this point. Other series' shouldn't have to be affected because of certain individuals continuing to take the sting out of F1 cars/tracks...

[shambles]

I hadn't previously imagined it would be possible to make as poor a track as Catalunya (and it is POOR). Even poorer.

Now my whole beliefs system must be questioned, the unthinkable has happened, and Catalunya has been made poorer.

Depressing.

[Rockmunky]

It's appauling, you're right. That section was pretty much the highlight of the circuit, now it's been obliterated by chicaning the place.

[Yannick]

I've never really liked the Barcelona Montmelo track. When it came onto the calendar of F1 in the early 1990s, it seemed like this track was made after the same formula as Estoril, which it didn't top, much less so when Estoril became unique a few years later by introducing its reverse corkscrew.
The Spanish GPs haven't been too interesting to watch in recent years.
Still, as they felt they needed more runoff in the pre-final corner, why haven't they done something like this, which would have preserved the character of the particular section?

[Rockmunky]

Because there would've been less runoff for the hairpin. It seems as though alot of things could've been done instead of a chicane though.

[Lustigson]

Originally Posted by Yannick

... Estoril became unique a few years later by introducing its reverse corkscrew.

That corner was indeed unique, but the F1 cars could hardly make the turn when it was first used.

[safc_fan89]

Originally Posted by martin-1

I hadn't previously imagined it would be possible to make as poor a track as Catalunya (and it is POOR). Even poorer.

Now my whole beliefs system must be questioned, the unthinkable has happened, and Catalunya has been made poorer.

Depressing.

I disagree. It's a good track made poor by the cars that race on it. In F1 at least, a combination of the cars and the fact that everyone knows it inside out through testing means the races are boring. But I like the design of the track. Well, liked.