Yeongam track to be a thing of beauty
The 2010 Formula One Championship is poised to launch a brand-new circuit this October in Yeongam, South Korea. Awaiting the final touches to the nearly completed track, Yeongam will hold “Circuit Run 2010,” this weekend to celebrate the start of the fifty day wait for its inauguration. Amidst the festivities, India’s Karun Chandhok is set to test the track in a Red Bull show car.
A couple hours from the bustling cities of Busan, Mokpo, and Gwangju, Yeongam is situated in South Jeolla, “Korea’s Greenest Province,” a largely agricultural region which is left virtually untouched by industry. The region is famous for seafood, figs, and rice, and is home to several historic temples. Because it is near the coast, the province is a favourite destination among tourists who enjoy the 2000+ islands nearby which are serene and picturesque. Given the nature of its location, the track will generate a healthy economy for locals, and also promote ecological tourism.
The technical aspects
Officially called the “Korean International Circuit,” this will be Korea’s first inclusion into the F1 schedule, and is an appropriate symbol of prosperity for the world’s fifth largest producer of cars. The track owes its authorship to the legendary Hermann Tilke, a race architect renowned for several tracks, including Bahrain, Shanghai, Istanbul, and the upcoming Austin International Circuit. Shaped like a dove in flight, the counterclockwise 5.621km course consists of three sectors, and covers a race distance of 309.155 km (55 laps). Accommodating approximately 130,000 spectators, the circuit is set to be the biggest sports stadium in Korea, an excellent feat given that Korea has already hosted titan events like the 1988 Olympics and 2002 World Cup.
Equipped with 18 corners, the track has three stretches between Turns 18 through 4 which will provide ample ground for accumulating speed, and the short distances between Turns 6 through 11 are difficult, but provide potential passing zones. Turn 10 poses a dangerously narrow corner answered by a curved stretch which will be a challenging area to tackle, and Turns 12 through 18 are windy but smooth. A versatile balance, Yeognam allows for downforce and high speed.
In addition to the lush view stretching along the coast, the permanent and temporary tracks enjoy a flavour of traditional Korean architecture fused stylishly with the contemporary. “The environment will be constructed with the style of traditional Korea,” explains Tilke. “The roof of the main grandstand will have traditional eaves. And around the stadium, nine Bongsoodae, a traditional fire alarm, will be constructed.”
Shaky start
The multi-million dollar project has not been without its setbacks. Delays in construction and speculative political tensions between the North and South Koreas have contributed to the race schedule being continuously pushed back. Yet http://www.formula1.com/ recently reported that the track is “90 percent complete,” and that the circuit will be ready by late October, pending track approval by the International Automobile Federation. The Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO), the South Jeolla government, and the Formula 1 Korea Grand Prix Organizing Committee are all confident that the circuit will be ready in time.
If all goes as planned, Yeongam track will hold the Korean Grand Prix for seven years, and it will be the seventh Asian country to serve as host in 2010. Provincial governor Park Joon-Young is optimistic that the circuit will become a symbol for both his country and the F1 racing. “I believe the track will become an icon representing South Korea,” he states. The Korean Grand Prix begins October 22nd.
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