23/09/2011
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Singapore Grand Prix organisers worked well into the night following a host of problems with the kerbs after a number worked loose during the day's support events.
It's now been revealed however, that Pirelli notified the FIA about a potential problem well ahead of any cars taking to the Marina Bay circuit, though no action appears to have been taken until moments before the opening Formula One practice session.
"We wrote to the FIA asking them to look at certain corners," said Pirelli's Director of Motorsport Paul Hembery. "We inspect all the kerbs because obviously it's an area of potential damage for the tyres and we saw that a few of the areas weren't quite right. We thought that we'd got them all, but clearly in P1 one bolt came up again which is worrying for all concerned.
"It's a little bit of a surprise, perhaps they've just not been bolted down correctly, maybe not tightened them up enough.
"I'm sure I saw the email at about four o'clock this morning," Hembery added, suggesting that the FIA was aware of a potential problem some fourteen hours before Formula One was on track, and eleven before the support categories.
However it wasn't until moments before the opening free practice session was due to begin that anything seemed to be done about it. Initially marshals inspected the kerbing before FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting checked out the offending areas personally.
As a result the opening practice session was initially delayed by thirty minutes as kerbs on the exit of turns three and fourteen were removed, with the session eventually being cut down to sixty minutes. Further work was carried out ahead of the second practice session, organisers removing the kerbing from the inside of turn thirteen, although the FIA announced it was turn fourteen.
Work began shortly after the second Formula One practice session drew to a close, the kerbing at turn five simply replaced with painted red and white hatchings.
That the work was needed in the first place begs the question that if it's happened to some, what's to stop it happening to all? For their part Pirelli will be inspecting the circuit again this evening to examine the repairs.