Less than 24 hours before the cars go out onto the track for the first time there is a still lot of activity in Baku in order to finish the circuit and its surroundings. Concrete barriers are put into place, sponsor banners being put up and even asphalt being replaced at some areas of the circuit.
The paddock itself saw teams working on their cars and practicing pit stops. A number of drivers and team owners were spotted walking around the circuit – on non-closed roads – to see what they will encounter over the next couple of days. It could become rather interesting when the pit exit light will go green tomorrow. Even though nobody voiced any safety concerns, a number of drivers questioned the design of the second chicane as well as the pit entry.
That pit entry sees cars coming in at a 90° right hand turn, followed by a 90° left hand turn, with a couple of trees on the inside and Pirelli with its tires on the outside. There is no margin for error in this area.
The second chicane is also a place where there is no space for mistakes. A couple of 90° corners and a very narrow track will make the life of all 56 drivers competing here this weekend difficult. Add to that a very narrow section through the city itself, 28 powerful GT3 cars and you can imagine the mayhem possible here in the streets. Everyone here is just hoping it won’t turn into something like the second FIA WTCC race in Macau last week.
There has been a last-minute change to entry list as well. Khaled Al Mudhaf will not be racing the MRS GT Racing McLaren MP4-12C GT3 and Russian Ilya Melnikov has taken his seat. As both drivers are Bronze drivers the #77 car will move from Pro-Am into the Gentlemen Trophy class.
Right behind the FIA GT Series paddock the Historic F1 teams were also preparing their cars. Some 15 cars will take to the track several times this weekend. It will not be a race but demonstration laps only though, but with the circuit lay out and the walls that close this might be the best solution…
Marcel ten Caat (@dsceuroeditor)
