Formula 1: Shanghai International Circuit ready for inspection
The organisers in Shanghai have claimed that the Shanghai International Circuit will be ready when the International Automobile Federation (FIA) team arrives in China for an inspection in March 2011.
There were some upgrades needed on the track which were conveyed to the organisers in China in November 2010.
The Chinese race was listed as a provisional race for the 2011 season on the Formula 1 calendar. The fate of the track will be determined later in 2011 by the sport’s governing body, FIA.
A spokesman for FIA stated, “The Shanghai International Circuit has confirmed that all work as requested by the FIA will be carried out and should be completed by the end of February.”
He further added, “Before a new licence can be issued, the FIA will carry out a final inspection in March.”
The Shanghai International Circuit has been hosting many international events for China. Apart from a Formula 1 race each year, the circuit has hosted MotoGP, A1GP, GP2 Asia and V8 Supercars since 2004.
The importance of the Chinese circuit can be gauged from the fact that it has staged a race each year since the opening of the track in 2004. The track was designed by Hermann Tilke and it has one of the longest straights amongst all the Formula 1 tracks.
With the speed of the current generation Formula 1 cars, the top speed on the long straight can reach 320 to 340 kilometres per hour. The fastest lap in the race was posted by the legendary German driver Michael Schumacher in 2004 and it still stays with
him.
The drivers have always enjoyed racing at the Shanghai Circuit as it gives a unique challenge to them with its high-speed corners and a long straight. The 5.5-kilometre track has one tight hair-pin as well at the end of the long straight.
In 2010, Chinese Grand Prix was won by the defending champion Jenson Button of McLaren-Mercedes. This was the second of the only two wins by Button in the 2010 season.
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