This is good to see.

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel) 06/02/2016 at 11:30 • Filed to: None

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Nice to see SAFER barriers being implemented through the Porsche Curves. There have been a number of huge incidents through this section of track through the years and the concrete walls that line the right side of the track are not forgiving. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe this is the first use of SAFER barriers out side of the US and possibly the first use on a road course (does Watkins Glen have any? EDIT: Watkins Glen has barriers on the outside of the final corner).

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Wheelerguy > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 11:40

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Looks like even shorter room for outside runoff.

Clemsie McKenzie > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 11:41

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It sure sounds better than concrete walls. With the speeds they are going through there these days, I’m happy they decided to go with it.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Wheelerguy 06/02/2016 at 11:42

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There was no runoff on that side anyway. Honestly this might be a runoff improvement as the grass is now gone. What a lot of people don’t realize is that the first portion of the Porsche Curves is over a bridge.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 11:43

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I believe Watkins Glen has them on the exit of whatever # the last turn is and on the exit of 1

Sam > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 11:48

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The IMS road course has SAFER barriers. Though they are only on the oval portions, since they use them for the 500 and Brickyard 400. Most road courses don’t need them, since the runoffs and sand traps are usually large enough that cars going off aren’t moving that fast.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > jvirgs drives a Subaru 06/02/2016 at 11:50

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Ok you are correct in that there are SAFER barriers on the outside of the final corner (with tires in front) but there is just tires on the outside of 1.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Sam 06/02/2016 at 11:52

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With the new layout I don’t think there are any SAFER barriers on the road course anymore. I believe they turn off of the oval before reaching the turn 1 barriers.

Sam > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 11:58

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If they were to overshoot the entry to the Turn 1 skip section they would hit the barrier (they'd need to be going very, very fast, though). Same if they exited the skip section and went straight into the wall.

E90M3 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 12:02

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Good to see they’re making the track safer, it’s cool to be a part of racing history and going to Le Mans. Unfortunate, when you see the bad side of racing, remember that accident in 2013? Yeah my friend took this picture. We were standing near Tetra Rouge at the time of the incident.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > E90M3 06/02/2016 at 12:07

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That was just really unfortunate that he happened to hit a portion of the Armco that was bolted directly to a tree. IIRC they moved the barrier in a few feet for 2014 so that it was no longer up against the trees.

DrScientist > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 12:17

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wow. out of 8 and half miles of track, this is where he went off.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > DrScientist 06/02/2016 at 12:25

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It was a combination of a damp track and a corner that is already tricky. Several cars had already spun on that lap before Allan got there. When his Aston began to spin it found grip resulting in a counter clockwise spin into the wall hitting rear first. I believe he struck at the base of the big tree at the start of the first full forza banner you can see in E90M3's photo. The scary thing is that he was alert and talking to the medical staff before passing away a few hours later.

DrScientist > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 12:28

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was this the accident that happened right in the closing minutes... leading to an end under yellow?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > DrScientist 06/02/2016 at 12:30

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No this was lap 3. I honestly can’t recall a le mans that finished under yellow.

DrScientist > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 12:33

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oh... dont know what im thinking about. then again... if i’m thinking about the end of a race... it would be through a sleep-deprived brain.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 12:43

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SAFER barriers are great, but they are pricey and the foam inside is easily damaged from exposure to the sun over time. This is why so many track are still using tire walls.

190octane > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/02/2016 at 12:45

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All of the practicing I've been doing on Forza lately has done nothing but make me love this track even more than I already did. I think it's surpassed Laguna Seca as my favorite track.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 06/02/2016 at 12:46

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I think that’s why you aren’t seeing them appear too much on road courses. I wouldn’t expect to see them anywhere else at La Sarthe but it makes sense here. 160+ mph for a prototype on a relatively narrow section of track with 0 runoff before hitting a concrete wall.

GolfR Guy > E90M3 06/02/2016 at 15:35

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Do you have any more of my pics from that race? or is that on my flickr?

E90M3 > GolfR Guy 06/02/2016 at 15:44

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You sent them all to me on a flash drive that I sent back at some point

GolfR Guy > E90M3 06/02/2016 at 16:41

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lol, i may need you to send me them...

Viggen > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 06/04/2016 at 23:33

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Was glad to see that the Porsche Curves would finally get SAFER barriers. Much needed.