Singapore GP: Track changes to boost lap times

Force India’s Adrian Sutil flying on Singapore Sling chicane

Ahead of the 2013 Singtel Singapore GP, race organizers have modified the layout of the Marina Bay street circuit to increase speed and reduce the overall lap time.

The chicane at Turn 10, also known as the ‘Singapore Sling’, which has been known to throw drivers around the cockpit, will be removed totally and replaced with a single left-hand bend rather than a left right combination.

Simulations conducted by the FIA shows that this increases the approaching speed by up to 40 km/h. To maintain the appropriate safety level, an additional layer of TechPro barriers have been added at the exit of Turn 10.

Ferrari‘s Fernando Alonso tweeted, “Working in the simulator. New Turn 10 in Singapore this year, without the chicane of before. The lap is around one second faster.”, which confirms the faster lap time.

Other changes include resurfacing the tarmac used by the public. This includes the sections of Turns 1 to 3, followed by Turn 5 and Turn 8. The Esplanade drive between Turn 13 and 14 has also be resurfaced along with a portion of the pit lane.

The 2013 Singapore Grand Prix will be hosted at the Marina Bay Street Circuit between the 20th and 22nd of September.