AUGUST 23, 2000

Williams criticizes mundane tracks

FRANK WILLIAMS has issued a warning that Formula One's racetracks are becoming clones and losing their character.

FRANK WILLIAMS has issued a warning that Formula One's racetracks are becoming clones and losing their character.

Since the tragic Imola weekend in 1994, where both Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives, Formula One has increased its pace of safety development.

Part of this development has been the modification of tracks to include bigger run-off areas, and the alteration of a number of previously classic F1 corners such as Eau Rouge.

But Williams is concerned that Spa-Francorchamps, one of the few remaining great racetracks, will soon be altered.

The team boss commented: "We all hope and pray that it [Spa] doesn't eventually become emasculated, which is the fate that has befallen a number of other great race tracks."

The circuit is fast, and although the Eau-Rouge corner is a favorite of many of the drivers, it was the scene of two big crashes for BAR last year.