SANDOWN’S PHASE 1 UPGRADE COMPLETED

THE FIRST stage of securing Sandown’s future until at least the middle of next decade has been completed.

By MARK FOGARTY

As revealed exclusively by AUTO ACTION in May, Sandown owner Melbourne Racing Club wants to extend the life of the circuit until at least 2025 in league with continued horse racing activities.

Continued use as a Supercars venue depends on the completion of major safety upgrades, which have been partially completed in time for next week’s Sandown 500.

The interim improvements secured a two-week extension of the existing track licence, with a full three-year renewal relying on further changes by next year’s 500 – the last of the current deal with Supercars.

The main improvement for this year’s race is a complete rebuild of the safety barrier system on the outside of the infamous Turn 6 – the scene of huge car-wrecking crashes in recent years.

Venue manager Brendan Stuart told AA that Sandown has borrowed 29 four-metre long concrete blocks weighing four tonnes each from the Australian Grand Prix to install behind renewed tyre barriers.

The new tyre bundles, contained by rubber belting, are fitted with energy-absorbing inserts, which again come courtesy of the AGP.

In a statement to AA, Supercars described the safety upgrade as follows: “The first stage of the Sandown works is complete and focusses on Turn 6 with concrete barriers replacing a section of Armco (multi-layer steel barrier) on the outside of the bend, while deteriorated and old tyre stacks have been changed.

“By reinforcing the tyre barriers, this is expected to avoid any major delays or stoppages in the event of a heavy impact in that area. The need to re-establish the Armco footings was a significant factor behind in-race stoppages.”

The track surface has also been extended on the outside of Turn 1 at the end of the main straight to give wayward drivers a little more leeway before going into the run-off area.

Sandown’s Stuart revealed that he is working with track design specialist iEDM and its consultant Mark Skaife on redesigning Turn 6 from next year.

A second phase of safety improvements are required for continued FIA Grade 3 track licence compliance – necessary to host Supercars events.

Stuart confirmed that MRC was keen to negotiate a multi-year renewal for the Sandown 500 from 2020.

Despite an assumption the combined horse and car racing site in south-east suburban Springvale would be sold for redevelopment by 2020, MRC has shelved those plans for several years.

It is still needed as a second-level horse racing venue in the foreseeable future and the motor racing circuit’s driver training, track days and manufacturer events are highly profitable.

As long as the cost of upgrading the track can be contained to hundreds of thousands of dollars rather than millions, MRC is happy to keep the track going well into the next decade – and perhaps even beyond.

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