[james lee]

Can anyone, please update on the situation?
Thanks

[James Leong]

Just to let everyone knows what is happening on the Sepang circuit. A track inspection has been done and provisionally the track has been approved to run anti-clockwise. However, the track owners and track operator has to come out with a comprehensive layout of the Parc Ferme, Medical and weighing areas. Certain work needs to be done before the actual approval can be given. This is now ongoing and the track should be legally homologated before the end of the month.

The race direction will be anti-clockwise as it was found to be acceptable since all kerbings are in place and the tyre walls done. The first round will be held at Sepang and please take note of the race direction.

James Leong

[Mikko Nassi]

So how does everyone feel about the new direction now that it's been raced on?

I felt that it was better than I thought it was going to be. My main concern was for racing and overtaking opportunities, and while there are less overtaking places it's not too difficult to find a place or two . The track is probably a bit more difficult to drive now, with a few sections that can catch drivers out (which is good).

[JohnKing6]

So how does everyone feel about the new direction now that it's been raced on?

I felt that it was better than I thought it was going to be. My main concern was for racing and overtaking opportunities, and while there are less overtaking places it's not too difficult to find a place or two . The track is probably a bit more difficult to drive now, with a few sections that can catch drivers out (which is good).

I'm in the same place - I still think clockwise is better but anti-clockwise is OK. I'm still a bit worried that we could have a big accident at Turn 1 at the start of races but we haven't so far so let's hope that continues. Overtaking is more difficult but still possible. If you look at the results of the heat 2's in the SL Cup the reserve grid proves that point:

Cadet: James Pull - 1st in heat 1 so started 8th. 1st place in heat 2.
Juniors: Daniel Woodroffe. Started heat 2 5th, finished 1st. Freddy Ang, started 9th, finished 3rd
Seniors: Rahul - started race 2 in 8th, finished 2nd

[BabyGodzillaGTi-R]

The track operators could still improve on track safety by placing tyres at the exit of turn 2 (entrance on turn 3) on the right side.
That is where Adam Illyas crashed in Race 1.

I wonder if anyone noticed on Saturday some one went underneath the fencing and could have got his head decapitated. Half his kart slid under the fencing.
Reason being, there was no tyre barriers.

I'm referring to the outside (right side of the track) on the exit of turn 4, entry of turn 5.

In conclusion, they should place tyres in front of those metal fencing at all parts of the track.

Too many people have gone under those metal fencings over the years.

Eric Yong, Jazman, Bryan Metha.

Food for thought.

[JohnKing6]

OK thanks - I've passed this info onto Paul David, he'll check what can be done before the next race.

[BabyGodzillaGTi-R]

Mikko, just to get the message across you should tag the pics of Eric's kart which went under the fence back in 2004....
No body wants to get hurt for sure.

[Mikko Nassi]

Well here's what was left of the steering wheel .

[Jules]

U mean Eric YONG - Vic?

The pic from Mikko is surely from Eric's Tony and I recall the rear left bearing carrier was torn away, and the axle snapped there.....Eric was very lucky and he has a burst eye capillary to show. Thank GOD he was fine and he missed the horizontal catch wire by mere inches...

It happened at the old T4 entry ( the 1st mickey mouse chicane ).

yes, more tyres pls and I have seen similar under the fence aftermath from accidents at the entry of the last corner ( old layout )

[BabyGodzillaGTi-R]

Edited. Mixed it up with another car friend of mine. Too many Erics that are involved in the car/ racing scene lol...
Hope he doesn't see this thread lol.

Come to think of it i wonder who was it that went under the fence on Saturday's practice.

[BabyGodzillaGTi-R]

Imagine if they reversed the direction for the Sepang F1 track just for this weekend.
Now that would be interesting.

I know u guys will completely disagree with me, leave the barriers and run off intact for them as the F1 cars are pretty strong anyway lol....

[sprocket]

the cable was the main culprit. if it was just the fencing, it would have absorbed the impact nicely. seen a few more guys go through that fence since then but luckily someone had unclip the cable from the posts. i say remove all the cables before someone loses their head, literally!!!

[ace]

So how does everyone feel about the new direction now that it's been raced on?

I felt that it was better than I thought it was going to be. My main concern was for racing and overtaking opportunities, and while there are less overtaking places it's not too difficult to find a place or two . The track is probably a bit more difficult to drive now, with a few sections that can catch drivers out (which is good).

I'm in the same place - I still think clockwise is better but anti-clockwise is OK. I'm still a bit worried that we could have a big accident at Turn 1 at the start of races but we haven't so far so let's hope that continues. Overtaking is more difficult but still possible. If you look at the results of the heat 2's in the SL Cup the reserve grid proves that point:

Cadet: James Pull - 1st in heat 1 so started 8th. 1st place in heat 2.
Juniors: Daniel Woodroffe. Started heat 2 5th, finished 1st. Freddy Ang, started 9th, finished 3rd
Seniors: Rahul - started race 2 in 8th, finished 2nd

But the reverse grid also leads to rather undeserving winners in heat 2. An obvious example from the weekend race would be Julien Fong's win in seniors. From what I saw, all he did was just to drive as best as he can to take advantage of Rahul and Nabil's slower starts and delays when trying to overtake. I don't think he really deserved the win seeing that Nabil and Rahul were quite a bit faster than him. So the reverse grid will probably lead to such undeserving results too.

[Mikko Nassi]

But the reverse grid also leads to rather undeserving winners in heat 2. An obvious example from the weekend race would be Julien Fong's win in seniors. From what I saw, all he did was just to drive as best as he can to take advantage of Rahul and Nabil's slower starts and delays when trying to overtake. I don't think he really deserved the win seeing that Nabil and Rahul were quite a bit faster than him. So the reverse grid will probably lead to such undeserving results too.

Wow undeserving winners? The rules are the same for everyone, and the winner is not determined from one race but rather points added up from both races.

Imo nobody ever deserves or has the right to win a race. You make the best of your situation and the result is what it is. Sometimes your performance is great but the result is hopeless, sometimes your performance is crap but you win!

As for Julien remember that Julien didn't "win" the Senior category - he was 2nd overall. And it's not as if he started the race on pole! He started from 4th on the grid, and was in 1st at the end of lap 1 thanks to some proper overtaking! That alone makes the win deserved in my opinion. He also had a lot of pace. I think he qualified 4th so it's not as if he was slow - if he was he wouldn't been caught by Nabil and Rahul. I thought it was an excellent drive!

take advantage of Rahul and Nabil's slower starts and delays when trying to overtake. I don't think he really deserved the win seeing that Nabil and Rahul were quite a bit faster than him.

Maybe Rahul and Nabil should learn to overtake faster and get better starts like Julien? (haha I know they're both really good at starts and overtaking.. I jest .)

[JohnKing6]

As for Julien remember that Julien didn't "win" the Senior category - he was 2nd overall. And it's not as if he started the race on pole! He started from 4th on the grid, and was in 1st at the end of lap 1 thanks to some proper overtaking! That alone makes the win deserved in my opinion. He also had a lot of pace. I think he qualified 4th so it's not as if he was slow - if he was he wouldn't been caught by Nabil and Rahul. I thought it was an excellent drive!

Absolutely - Julien drove a great race. Even when he saw Rahul and Nabil closing he was still consistently doing high 53 sec laps. Rahul and Nabil were faster but not by enough. I'm biased because I was one of the people that suggested the reserve grid but to me this was exactly the kind of situation I would have hoped for - it gave a person who we wouldn't have normally expected to win a race a bit of a chance, and he grabbed it with both hands - and will be a better and more confident driver for it.

If we want our drivers to progress they need to become accomplished racers, not just qualifying and win from the front specialists. The reverse grid format is used in GP2 and (I guess) GP3 so think of this as practice.