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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe orange Armco barrier at Turn 8. Image: Matthew Christie <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe orange Armco barrier at Turn 8. Image: Matthew Christie <\/p>\n
Officials have painted the Armco barrier on the inside of the right-hander bright orange this year after poor visibility was blamed for multiple crashes 12 months ago.<\/p>\n
Richie Stanaway, Cameron Hill and David Reynolds all crashed in quick succession at the corner during a Friday evening qualifying session that was ultimately abandoned.<\/p>\n
Each did so after a touch with the Armco on the inside \u2013 which was under shade at the time \u2013shot them into the outside concrete.<\/p>\n
Jaxon Evans suffered the same fate in Sunday qualifying and, like Stanaway, was ruled out of the rest of the weekend with concussion.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A safety review was undertaken in the wake of the event, with the result a change to the colour of the barrier \u2013 but not to the actual layout.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a token gesture, to be honest. It doesn\u2019t fix anything,\u201d Reynolds told Speedcafe after completing his track walk on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might make a difference, but I don\u2019t think so. If they wanted to be serious, they could do a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The kerb on the inside of the corner is also brighter this year thanks to a move to BP colours around the circuit.<\/p>\n
Officials have meanwhile realigned the concrete barrier on drivers\u2019 left on the exit to avoid a repeat of the fate suffered by Evans.<\/p>\n
The SCT Camaro ricocheted back to the inside of the circuit after initially sliding along the outside wall.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The orange Armco barrier at Turn 8. Image: Matthew Christie<\/p>\n
Asked if he had wanted more changes to be made, Reynolds said it\u2019s a balancing act to improve safety without diminishing the challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to make it easy, you want to make it hard so that shit goes wrong, like it did for a bunch of us last year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what the best part of this track is. It\u2019s the danger, it\u2019s the risk, it\u2019s everything. That\u2019s what makes this circuit so awesome.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you get it right you feel like the King, but when you get it wrong, you feel like a dickhead. That\u2019s what we love.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reynolds did though suggest a resurfacing of the corner ahead of next year\u2019s event could be in order.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe surface is really bad. There\u2019s lots of crack treatment, it\u2019s really dirty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey could probably reseal that part, from 150 metres out to 150 metres around. That would give all the cars a bit more consistency to make it a bit easier.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you drive up there the surface is all on the piss and rutted out, so your car starts moving around before you get there. That\u2019s what does your head in the most.\u201d<\/p>\n
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