Sepang improves safety

Sepang improves safety

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Safety improvements are under way at the Sepang circuit ahead of the season-ending Malaysian Grand Prix on Oct. 22.

A protective transparent shield will be added to the top of the 600 meters pit wall, track officials said on Friday.

The gravel trap at the first bend has been extended and drainage improved.

"The safety features are part of a 30 million ringgit (US$8 million) upgrade to the track," said spokesman Azhar Ghazali. Work also includes an increase in covered seating to shelter about 80 percent of the estimated 94,000 crowd.

Calls to upgrade safety followed the death of a marshal at last month's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.