Modifications made to Valencia track

A raft of changes have been put into place ahead of Valencia's second Grand Prix this weekend. Often the case with new race tracks, particularly those on public roads, a number of small alterations have taken place for both safety and practicality reasons following analysis of the first race in the Spanish city last season.

With the 2008 European Grand Prix having been the first on the streets of Valencia, organisers have revealed a number of FIA-appointed adjustments; the most noticeable is likely to be the loss of the concrete wall at the end of the pit lane exit, which separated it from the race track - the surface here has also been reviewed to level it with that of the rest of the track.

Smaller changes include increased run-off areas at Turns 3, 9, 10 and 14 - by moving walls further back - and the addition of artificial grass behind the rumble strips of Turn 7 and 11. The pit lane has been finished with a high-grip resin substance and openings in walls at Turns 7 and 11 have been switched to the opposite sides of the circuit in order to reduce hazardous situation. Also, there are now longer kerbs on the apexes of the Turn 4-5 chicane.

Source: GP Update