BATHURST Regional Council has been told to fast-track the installation of debris fencing along Pit Straight at Mount Panorama.
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The Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) and the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) want the work completed to ensure the circuit meets tough safety criteria.
Every three years FIA officials visit the track, along with representatives from CAMS, and council’s director of engineering Doug Patterson.
The circuit’s latest report card from CAMS for the iconic motor racing circuit has been received by council and the issue of debris fencing is marked as a priority.
Gone will be the intimate connection between the fans who line Pit Straight and the V8 Supercars as they roar past.
Cr Warren Aubin, who sits on the Mount Panorama racing committee, said that while the initiative will not become a reality in time for this year’s 50th anniversary of the Great Race in October, it is likely to make the 2012 race the end of an era.
City engineer Doug Patterson’s report to last night’s meeting of the Mount Panorama committee outlined details contained in the CAMS report received in March.
“The inspection was carried out as the triennial inspection for the provision of the FIA Licence for the racing circuit which is essential for the operation of the circuit,” the report said.
“Following the provision of the report, council and subsequently CAMS are required to report to the FIA and confirm that the report is accepted and that the issues and proposals indicated in it will be addressed during the three years that the licence is operational.”
Cr Aubin said debris fencing is part-and-parcel of the circuit’s evolution. “What price do you place on safety,” he said. “We’ll widen Pit Straight by a couple of metres and replace the rusty old fence with a concrete barrier.
“The debris fence will then run along the length of the straight. The thing is, if we don’t do the work, we don’t get to run the event.”
Cr Aubin said the lie of the land with the slope in that area of the circuit means spectators shouldn’t be unduly inconvenienced.
“Debris fences stops tyres and other pieces of machinery flying into the crowd if they come loose in an accident,” he said.
“It’s especially important now we have Formula 3 cars running at the Mount while the new breed of GT cars coming over from Europe are getting faster and faster.
