Street circuits like Adelaide, the Gold Coast and now Hamilton guarantee excitement for spectators and drivers alike. Photo / Getty Images
The Hamilton street race circuit has been defended in the wake of Australian Supercar V8 driver Russell Ingall's prediction of "lots of crashes".
The venue makes its debut on the Australian championship from April 18-20 and event director Stephen Vuleta brushed aside Ingall's comments that the new course
was risky.
"Drivers are drivers, they'll all have their own opinions," Vuleta told Radio Sport.
"I don't know that Russell's actually been here and seen the circuit or whether he's going by second-hand information.
"We have gone through really vigilant planning in building this circuit, it's been approved by the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) and we've had a number of drivers who have been around it.
"Nobody has come forward and said it's too dangerous."
Known in Supercar circles as the "The Enforcer", Ingall said the 3.4km circuit was fast but sprinkled with tight corners.
"It's got long straights and tight, 90 degree corners so there'll be a lot of drivers making big lunges under brakes," he told AAP.
"Qualifying is more important than most races, and the pit stops will come into play as usual, but there's lots of concrete and not a lot of run off so there's going to be some carnage - lots of crashes."
The outspoken veteran suggested less experienced drivers would need composure or may struggle to finish.
Vuleta said he had walked the circuit personally with Australian driver Paul Dumbrell and drove the circuit with New Zealand veteran Greg Murphy.
"Yes, they said it's very fast but they also said it's an extremely wide street circuit," Vuleta said.
"These guys have to come and adjust to it, it's a brand new circuit for them all.
"It's got high-speed straights and fast corners but it's a motor racing circuit."
Vuleta said the Hamilton course, which is near completion, was comparable to street circuits at Adelaide and the Gold Coast.
He said the run offs were at appropriate turns and of the required length.
- NZPA
