Slight problem with this weekends A1GP race in Beijing
Discussion
The cars can't get round one of the hairpin corners because they don't have enough lock or enough space. 
This weekend's A1 GP street race in Beijing has run into trouble because the A1 cars cannot get round the hairpin. The circuit runs down a section of dual-carriageway into the hairpin and then goes back using the other carriageway. The problem was that there is not enough turning space for the cars. When practice began Team Germany's Nico Hulkenberg was the first man to try. He soon ran out of road on the exit, despite making a very cautious approach. The session was abandoned as others cars came to a standstill behind him. Two further attempts to start the practice session resulted in the same problem and the organisers concluded that the track will probably have to widened overnight.
That is not impossible but much work will be required. The problem is not helped by the fact that there is a grandstand close to the track at the exit of the corner. This means that any reprofiling would have to be done on the other side of the hairpin. The option exists to cut out the entire section but this would create problems with the pitlane entry and make the circuit very short and not very challenging. It would also wipe out one grandstand seats in which have presumably been sold to spectators.
The circuit has never been used before and was chosen by the Chinese because the Goldenport circuit that was listed on the A1 calendar last year was ruled to be too small for the A1 cars. The long term aim is to use the roads in the Olympic Park area for a circuit but that will only happen after the Games takes place in 2008. The current venue is at the Jingkai Convention and Exhibition Centre in Beijing's Economic and Technological Development Zone of Yi Zhuang, in the south-east of the city. The circuit was designed by the Shanghai Municipal Planning Design Institute and approved by the FIA and is 1.9-miles in length. The event is supported by the Beijing government but is the city's first major international motorsports event.
Does anyone remember the DTM in about 1990/91 when the big Audi V8's had to do 3 point turns at the hairpin if they didn't get exactly the right turn in marker. Was it Wunstorf or Singen?
GP.news said:
This weekend's A1 GP street race in Beijing has run into trouble because the A1 cars cannot get round the hairpin. The circuit runs down a section of dual-carriageway into the hairpin and then goes back using the other carriageway. The problem was that there is not enough turning space for the cars. When practice began Team Germany's Nico Hulkenberg was the first man to try. He soon ran out of road on the exit, despite making a very cautious approach. The session was abandoned as others cars came to a standstill behind him. Two further attempts to start the practice session resulted in the same problem and the organisers concluded that the track will probably have to widened overnight.
That is not impossible but much work will be required. The problem is not helped by the fact that there is a grandstand close to the track at the exit of the corner. This means that any reprofiling would have to be done on the other side of the hairpin. The option exists to cut out the entire section but this would create problems with the pitlane entry and make the circuit very short and not very challenging. It would also wipe out one grandstand seats in which have presumably been sold to spectators.
The circuit has never been used before and was chosen by the Chinese because the Goldenport circuit that was listed on the A1 calendar last year was ruled to be too small for the A1 cars. The long term aim is to use the roads in the Olympic Park area for a circuit but that will only happen after the Games takes place in 2008. The current venue is at the Jingkai Convention and Exhibition Centre in Beijing's Economic and Technological Development Zone of Yi Zhuang, in the south-east of the city. The circuit was designed by the Shanghai Municipal Planning Design Institute and approved by the FIA and is 1.9-miles in length. The event is supported by the Beijing government but is the city's first major international motorsports event.
Does anyone remember the DTM in about 1990/91 when the big Audi V8's had to do 3 point turns at the hairpin if they didn't get exactly the right turn in marker. Was it Wunstorf or Singen?
GP.com said:
Beijing circuit altered
The Beijing street circuit has been substantially altered in order to solve the problem of the hairpin being too tight. The troublesome Turn 8 is to be moved up to the pit entrance area, where there is sufficient room for the A1 cars to turn, thanks to an intersection which allows a little more space. This means that the circuit will be cut to around 1-mile in length. The new corner means that there will be some potential for confusion with the entrance to the pitlane but it seems that the decision was the only possible one that would guarantee that the race goes ahead.
The problem is that wheel rim touches the wishbone and steering link.
The corner radius is 21m and the turning circle of the car is 22m.
The circuit has been shortened, effectively moving the problem hairpin into a bigger area allowing the cars to turn.
Qualifying is canceled and grid for race one, is decided by times from abreviated practice session.
It is cold and miserable, we have been here for 4 days and completed 9 laps.
Graham.
The corner radius is 21m and the turning circle of the car is 22m.
The circuit has been shortened, effectively moving the problem hairpin into a bigger area allowing the cars to turn.
Qualifying is canceled and grid for race one, is decided by times from abreviated practice session.
It is cold and miserable, we have been here for 4 days and completed 9 laps.
Graham.
Edited by lanan on Saturday 11th November 08:55
They mentioned show on the coverage this morning, should make it fun!!
I did notice though as the cars wore there front tyres in, and the track came in that a few drivers started to power the back round (try that in an f1 car!) looked good on tv!
I was a bit surprised that they didn't try getting the car round it first though?
And I thought the stationary yellow at the entry was a stupid idea, how are you supossed to warn drivers of something past the next post if you've always got it out, I was told to always keep something in reserve, I know they could go to a waved, but that would make the effective yellow flag zone huge (It would cover 4 posts!)
I did notice though as the cars wore there front tyres in, and the track came in that a few drivers started to power the back round (try that in an f1 car!) looked good on tv!
I was a bit surprised that they didn't try getting the car round it first though?
And I thought the stationary yellow at the entry was a stupid idea, how are you supossed to warn drivers of something past the next post if you've always got it out, I was told to always keep something in reserve, I know they could go to a waved, but that would make the effective yellow flag zone huge (It would cover 4 posts!)
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff