01.10.2010

Crane tips on F1 track

A mobile crane tipped over on Wednesday at the Yeongam Formula One circuit in South Korea damaging part of a main grandstand.

Korea is due to stage the grand prix on the 24th October but was not ready for the standard pre-race approval inspection normally due 90 days prior to the race. A last minute inspection is scheduled for October 11th.
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The boom landed in the main stand

The crane, a fairly dated Japanese truck crane, appears to have been overloaded, as everything else is intact. Saying that, the outrigger set is poor, with rustic cribbing on one side and nothing under the outrigger that sits on the pristine track. However outrigger set up was most definitely NOT the cause here.
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The outrigger set-up standards are very poor, especially for an interenational venue such as this

Reports claim that the venue has yet to be completed and while the crane boom appears to have done little damage it certainly will not help the situation.

In spite of the problems the tracks managers have told the FIA that it will be complete and ready to host the race.