F1: Brazil Federation Eyes Run-Off For Interlagos Corner

Formula 1

F1: Brazil Federation Eyes Run-Off For Interlagos Corner

Safety improvements could be on tap for the track at Interlagos...

SPEED Staff / GMM | Posted April 06, 2011 GMM Newswire

The track at Interlagos could look a little different when F1 drivers return for the Brazilian GP later this year. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Brazil's motor racing federation Confederacao Brasileira de Automobilismo (CBA) has asked the FIA to get involved after the latest fatality at Formula One venue Interlagos.

Stock car driver Gustavo Sondermann on Sunday died after he was struck by other cars in an incident almost identical to another fatality at the same Curva do Cafe in 2007.

In both cases, the crashed car bounced off the barriers onto the racing line, triggering calls for grandstands to be demolished so that a run-off can be installed.

"Today I have asked the FIA to send an inspector. We have not found a solution to improve so now races will start with a yellow flag in that stretch," CBA president Clayton Pinteiro told Agencia Estado.

Interlagos installed 'softwall' barriers after the Rafael Sperafico fatality "but it has not worked," acknowledged Pinteiro.

"I think there is no other recourse than the expansion of the run-off area for this corner," he continued.

Pinteiro said the change would require both the FIA's agreement due to the homologation rules, and also that of the Sao Paulo authorities.

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