Australian GP goes ahead

Speedworx · 8 Feb 2002, 21:08 (Ref:212628)

I have just read on BBC Ceefax that the Australian GP can go ahead.

It had been given a provisional date due to the coronor's report into the marshall's death at last years race.

Mr V · 8 Feb 2002, 21:10 (Ref:212632)

i thought that this was decided months ago!?

Speedworx · 8 Feb 2002, 21:11 (Ref:212634)

No. The coroner's report came out today and blamed the organisors.

Valve Bounce · 8 Feb 2002, 22:03 (Ref:212711)

I just didn't have the heart to read the report nor the recommendations. We had discussed this accident at great lengths just after the race last year, and I could go back into this very sad issue again. One of hte guys who posts here regularly was actually a marshall there - sorry I can't remember his name right now, but I just would rather put this sad case in hte back of my mind right now.
P.S. I think it was Vandas.
I also think that Jacques was very lucky to survive that accident.

Ray Bell · 9 Feb 2002, 04:41 (Ref:212854)

Yes, it was Vandas...

The coroner reported, not that they were to blame, but that there should have been some way to prevent the accident putting flying pieces of car through the fence.

The fences will now be stepped, but locked together with steel sections so they won't move... the gaps will be facing away from the drivers, so it will be slightly saw-toothed.

For photographers, the gaps will remain, but there will be a cage behind the photographer. He has to be responsible for ducking if he has his head in there....