WHEN the green light sends the field of V8 Supercars on their way in this year’s Bathurst 1000 on October 13, there will be more room to manoeuvre during those hectic initial moments of the iconic motorsport event.
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Staff from Bathurst Regional Council and specialist contractors have been on site at the circuit over the past two months carrying out upgrades along Pit Straight.
They have already moved major underground infrastructure to allow a new outer concrete barrier to replace the previous Armco fence.
This process will allow the widening of that section of the track by two metres, while a high debris fence is still to be constructed to protect spectators from any flying debris after a crash, particularly during the opening lap of the event.
City engineer Doug Patterson said the concrete wall will make race fans safer.
It has been a massive job: about 240 cubic metres of concrete have been needed to build the 650 metre long and 1.2 metre high wall.
Funding for this particular work has come thanks to $520,000 being made available to council through the Regional Development Australia Fund.
However, the concrete barrier wall is only a part of the overall $800,000 upgrade, which also includes major drainage works and better lighting.
Mr Patterson said they have taken the opportunity to widen the track as part of the infrastructure upgrade.
“The extra two metres will not be sealed, but filled with topsoil and planted out with grass,” he said.
“This will still allow more area for the drivers to take evasive action, particularly when a full grid heads off at the start of the event.”
Mr Patterson said the $2 million tender for the resurfacing of the circuit has been let to the Sydney-based SRS Pty Ltd.
He said the company is a specialist in its field and will put down a 40-millimetre coat of polymer modified asphaltic concrete.
