THERE will be a subtle but important change for drivers to observe on the run to Symmons Plains Raceway’s iconic hairpin this weekend.
In line with updated FIA regulations, the flag marshalling point there has been moved.
For safety reasons following various multi-car pile-ups on the stretch from Turn 3 to Turn 4, flag marshals will now be located on the outside of the circuit, instead of inside the hairpin.
“We’ve changed the flag marshal point after a recommendation from the FIA,” Potter told The Repco Garage.
“Where the marshalling post was plonked in the middle of the hairpin at the end of the armco, we had an 11-car pile up in that channel area.
“The belief is if we did have a crash at that hairpin area, with 11 or 12 cars, there would be an issue of the actual armco moving and the flag point being compromised at the end of the straight.
“At Bathurst, there was an issue of a car riding the concrete wall and hitting a flag point, so moving the flag post to the left side of the concrete wall means there’s less chance of this happening.
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“I can see the point of change, it’s always been historically on the inside and our flaggies are a little bit disappointed because they like to see it there, but it’s safer to be on the outside.”
The Ned Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint begins tomorrow, although the Repco Supercars Championship won’t hit the track until Saturday morning.
