Formula E has defended the Sanya EPrix circuit hosting a Gen4 race next April in light of the track struggling to contain the Gen3Evo cars in last Saturday’s race.
Several incidents occurred at the Hainan Island venue including a red flag triggering multi-car incident. Concerns have also been expressed about the narrowness of some parts of the track especially the star and finish straight.
Speaking to Formula E Notebook earlier this week, Formula E co-founder and chief championship officer, Alberto Longo, said that options are being kept open to possibly modify the Sanya track ahead of the third iteration of the race next Spring.
“As you can imagine, every time that we announce the calendar, we have gone through a through process together with FIA, and with our partners, in terms of simulating,” said Longo.
“We will define the best layout of the track possible in order to guarantee that we showcase the best out of these cars, but most importantly that we entertain, which is very important, to bring fans to our sport is absolutely paramount to us.”
Longo also outlined the specific flashpoints of the Sanya circuit, turns 6 and 9, which saw several incidents in last weekend’s second Sanya EPrix.
“Turn six, turn nine should have a certain level of modification,” said Longo.
“From now to the next FIA World Motorsport Council meeting (in October) we will be defining (the calendar), and once we have gone through all the simulations coming from not only FIA, but also the teams and the manufacturers, we will be modifying those tracks that need certain modification, because obviously we all want to race on urban tracks as well.
Longo added that tracks such as Tokyo and Sanya remain “a priority for Formula E, and they definitely come with some compromises, but still, we do want to be racing there.”
“There is very little room, particularly in Sanya and Tokyo to modify those venues, but trust me, we’re looking in detail in order to make the best out of it. I’m sure those changes that we’re going to make will make the big difference next year.”
