Baku street circuit revamped for Blancpain Sprint Series finale

This weekend's Blancpain Sprint Series finale in Azerbaijan will be fought out on a revised Baku street circuit.

The Baku World Challenge, which has attracted a capacity 30-car entry, will run on a shorter version of the track that hosted the final round of last year's FIA GT Series.

The circuit has been revised in five key locations, resulting in a reduction of length from 2.7 to 2.4 miles:

1) The tight second chicane after the first hairpin has been removed courtesy of construction work in the city.

2) The following right-hander that takes the cars onto the narrow streets of the old city has been tightened to approaching 90 degrees as a result of the higher speeds at which the cars will be arriving.

3) The controversial third chicane, to which most drivers paid only lip service and which broke up in the main race, has been removed.

4) This has been facilitated by a shorter run to the final hairpin, which has resulted in the shorter circuit length.

5) The final chicane has changed direction from a right-and-left to left-and-right to stop drivers using the pitlane entry as the racing line.

The two chicanes will be FIA-approved temporary structures of the type used at the Porto street circuit World Touring Car Championship venue.

Race promoter Renaud Jeanfils said: "The circuit has the same spirit as before, but we think it will much better."

Formula 1 will use a different track when it comes to Baku for its European Grand Prix in 2016.

Bakudaily.Az