FIA confirms Melbourne DRS zones

14/03/2012

The FIA has confirmed that there will be two DRS zones in Melbourne this weekend for the season opener.

Sauber's head of track engineering, Giampaolo Dall'Ara, last week revealed that there would be two DRS zones in Melbourne, but it was unclear where exactly they would be located.

It has now been revealed that the sole DRS detection zone will be just before Turn 14, with the devices activated at the very start of the pit straight and again shortly after Turn 2.

Changes to the track for this year include "Speed bumps" installed behind the kerb of turn 4 to prevent drivers running wide on the exit of turn 3 and rejoining between turns 4 and 5.

Furthermore, a new section of kerb has been added after the existing kerb on the exit of turn 4. The kerb on the apex of turn 5 has been extended by approximately ten metres.

The kerb on the apex of turn 13 has been extended by approximately six metres and the angle of the wall relative to the track on the left on the exit of turns 4 and 12 has been reduced.

The tyre barrier on the drivers' left after turn 12 has been shortened where the wall is parallel to the track, while the tyre barrier on the drivers' right after turn 12 has been extended.

The Drivers' Steward for this race is Johnny Herbert, with assistance from Paul Gutjahr, President of the FIA Hillclimb Commission, and Enzo Spano, President of the Sporting commission of the Automobile and Touring Club of Venezuela.

To check out the official circuit map, click here.