Revised Vietnam GP track layout revealed

Organisers of next year's inaugural Vietnam Grand Prix have unveiled an updated track layout for April's race in Hanoi.

The circuit uses a mix of existing city streets together with purpose built permanent sections inspired by some of F1's most iconic venues such as Suzuka, Monaco and Nurburgring.

The original layout announced in November 2018 consisted of 22 turns in total, but a revised layout issued by the organisers on Wednesday reveals a new corner has been added at the end.

Previously the final two corners had consisted of a quick left followed by a much tighter left.

• Vietnam GP street circuit set for January completion

But after reviewing the existing city infrastructure, organisers have made changes. The track now winds further to the right before making a tight left, which is then followed by another more open left.

Adding an extra corner means that Hanoi matches Singapore, which is the only other circuit on the 2020 calendar to feature 23 turns. Tha revision also increases the total lap length from 5.565km to 5.607km.

“In the course of building our new track, and carrying out geographical assessments, we have adjusted Turn 22 and added Turn 23 in consultation with Formula 1 and the FIA, who have been working closely with the event organisers to ensure all changes have been carried out according to standard regulations,” Le Ngoc Chi, CEO of the Vietnam Grand Prix Corporation explained.

“The new Turn 23 is a 100 percent left turn where the track widens out again to 15m where it will lead on to the start/finish line for one last push by the drivers when they race in Hanoi for the first time."

Chi said that he hopes the revised layout will help produce better racing and make for exciting overtaking. "We have a long stretch, which at 1.6km is one of the longest stretches on the calendar, and will see cars reach up to 335km/h,” he said.

The circuit is the first to be designed by Formula 1's in-house Motorsports team, with input from Hermann Tilke who has been responsible for many modern circuits over the past two decades including the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

The organisers confirmed last week that the building work which includes a 300m long bespoke pit building will be completed on schedule by early January.

The Grand Prix itself - the first to be held in the country - will take place on April 5, the third race of the 2020 season scheduled between events in Bahrain and China.

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