Australian Grand Prix chief Andrew Westacott has promised to deliver the “fastest race in Melbourne ever” after the addition of a fourth DRS zone was added to the track.
Although the move is yet to be officially rubber stamped, Westacott remains hopeful having had “positive feedback” from the FIA, the governing body for Formula One.
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Should the Albert Park circuit be approved for the extra zone, it would make it the only race on the F1 calendar with four DRS sections.
Westacott predicted the cars will hit speeds as high as 340km/h in what promises to be a massive thrill for the fans set to flock to Melbourne from March 30 to April 2.
“It will be the fastest race in Melbourne ever and that is a result of a number of things,” Westacott told the Herald Sun.
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“You’ve got the evolution of the cars from last year, and they’ve obviously got better, and the fourth DRS zones means the cars will be quicker around the back of the circuit.
“Which will obviously increase speed and therefore reduce lap time and make it the quickest Grand Prix and the highest average speed ever in Melbourne.”
The fourth DRS zone would allow drivers greater chances to overtake as they come in to the newly designed turn 11, considered the longest straight patch on the circuit.
The drag reduction system (DRS) was introduced in 2011 to increase the drivers’ chances of overtaking as they are permitted to adjust the rear wing of their vehicle to reduce drag.
The technology can only be used in the allocated DRS zones on the track and drivers must be trailing the car in front by less than a second to use it.