A look at the new-look Imola circuit
| Monday, 13 July 2009 10:24 |
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The modifications requested by the FIM for the New Variante Bassa at the Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari have been completed on schedule. The final layout was agreed with the FIM on June 1 and the work began immediately afterwards. After a break for the Italian Cycling Week, the modifications were completed on July 7, exactly one week before the planned three-day World Superbike, Supersport and Superstock test from July 14-16.
The New Variante Bassa, to give it its official title, is situated half-way along the pit garage complex, and is made up of a sharp left-right with a turn angle of 90° and 78° respectively. Riders coming from the Rivazza will now be faced with this first gear chicane that will slow them down considerably. The track will not be resurfaced in the section from Rivazza to Tamburello because this was done in 2008 and the other sections of the track have already been given the go-ahead by the sporting authorities.
After the official SBK tests have concluded, the circuit fencing will be extended a further 100 metres, which will increase the run-off area by more than 3 metres. This will be the last intervention to the circuit before the weekend of September 25-27, which will see World Superbike return to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo & Dino Ferrari for the first time in three years.
"I am proud and delighted with the speed with which we started up and brought to a conclusion the modification work requested by the FIM delegate Claude Danis" declared circuit director Pierpaolo Gardella. "It is a clear sign of how Formula Imola is working on the project. SBK represents the pride and joy of our sporting activity and we are doing everything possible, and will do in the next few months before the race, to make sure everything works to perfection".
