FIA confirms DRS zone for Korea

10/10/2012

The FIA has confirmed that as in 2011, there will be a single DRS zone at Yeongam, however, it will be around 80 metres longer than last year.

The detection zone is 90 metres before Turn 1, while in 2011 it was 30 metres after the corner. Activation is 320 metres after Turn 2, while last year it was 516 metres after the corner.

A number of changes have been carried out to the circuit including numerous verges which have been laid with asphalt and painted with green non-slip paint, while drainage has been improved in the pit entry.

The artificial grass on the exit of Turn 13 has been extended as far as the end of the asphalt run-off, while The 'sausage' kerb on the apex of Turn 18 has been lowered by approximately 30mm and the leading 1.5m chamfered linearly to zero. Furthermore, higher debris fences have been installed on the right between turns 7 and 9.

The stewards include Martin Donnelly, who officiated at last year's event year and was subsequently on duty in Canada in June when Sebastian Vettel was reprimanded for an incident involving Bruno Senna during Friday morning practice.

Donnelly, who raced in F1 for Arrows and Lotus, was a star of junior racing categories in the 1980s before making his grand prix debut with Arrows at the 1989 French GP, substituting for Derek Warwick. He was offered a race drive at Lotus alongside Warwick for 1990 and started 12 races, finishing a best of 7th at the Hungarian GP, before suspension failure caused a huge accident in practice for the Spanish GP at Jerez, that ended his top-line driving career. Despite the serious multiple injuries he suffered, Donnelly recovered sufficiently to race competitively in national events. He now runs the Donnelly Track Academy in Norfolk and has held a number of racing team management positions.

He is joined by Vincenzo Spano - President of the Sporting Commission of the Automobile and Touring Club of Venezuela, who was on duty at Suzuka last weekend, and Paul Gutjahr, President of the FIA Hill Climb Commission, Board Members and President of Auto Sport Suisse SARL, who was last on duty at Hockenheim.

To check out the official 2012 circuit map, click here.

To experience a lap of Yeongam, click here