Organisers of this weekend’s inaugural Korean grand prix have scattered cement dust in places around the new Yeongam layout, as the newly-laid asphalt surface continues to seep oil as it cures.

But Karun Chandhok – the only man to have completed a lap of the 5.62km layout in a formula one car – insists the circuit will be safe enough to host the race.

“I don’t think for one second that it will be disastrous,” the Indian driver told the Telegraph.  “A lot of the rumours have been inaccurate.”

In its official event preview, the Italian team Toro Rosso also urged the F1 world not to “panic” as it makes the long trek from Europe to the Jeollanam-do province.

There are concerns about the incomplete track facilities, food, hotels, access roads, organised crime in the local area and the proximity to the rogue North Korea.

“Our advice to you is don’t panic and make the most of the experience,” said the team.

But Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi is hoping the experience is not just enjoyed by F1.

“The key question will be if the people know enough about formula one to want to attend the race,” said the Swiss.

One piece of good news from the nearby port city Mokpo, about 400 kilometres south of the capital Seoul, is that three days of mostly dry weather is being forecast.

But the sport’s travelling circus is still bracing for a difficult event.  To start, Williams team manager Dickie Stanford has told his troops to be ready for a seven-hour bus ride from the capital to Yeongam.

“From a driver’s perspective the most important thing is that the tarmac lasts,” said Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld.

Nico Rosberg also said he hopes “the asphalt holds up”, and reigning world champion Jenson Button admitted he expects “a few unexpected issues” in Korea.

But 2010 points leader Mark Webber is sanguine.

“We all have to go there, see the track and get on with the job — it’s the same for everyone,” said the Australian.

Timo Glock has joined a group of F1 drivers who think the ‘proximity’ wing idea is a bad one.

FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh has admitted that the proposal, with chasing drivers able to press a button and boost straightline speed next season, might not see the light of day.

“I think it’s highly dangerous,” Glock is quoted as saying by the website of the Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell.

“From the viewpoint of safety, I think it’s a wrong decision.”

The speed difference between the Lotus and Red Bull cars was arguably the cause of last Sunday’s huge crash at Valencia involving Mark Webber.

“We’ve seen what can happen if the guy behind has significantly more speed,” Virgin driver Glock said.

“Mark was just lucky that there was enough run-off and he could just run into the tyre barrier,” added the German, suggesting that the return of KERS in 2011 could boost the speed differences even more.

“The drivers all have the same opinion; it is clearly too dangerous,” said Glock of the adjustable rear wing idea.

“Perhaps the (GPDA) drivers’ union can do something.  It should definitely be talked about.”

Plans for adjustable ‘proximity’ rear wings next year are not set in stone, according to FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh.

The idea, giving chasing drivers the ability to reduce drag and therefore better mount overtaking moves, was championed by the teams association and recently rubber-stamped by the FIA.

But there has been some opposition since the announcement; primarily by those who think it is an unnecessary and artificial ploy, and also those who are concerned about safety.

“We will see whether people are convinced by it or not,” said Whitmarsh, also the McLaren team boss.

The Briton admitted the proximity wing was developed due to “fan-based pressure” to improve the spectacle of overtaking, but said it is not certain the innovation will actually debut.

“I think we have got to do a little bit more work on deployment and the sporting regulations that accompany it, and if we get that right we’ll give it a go,” said Whitmarsh.

He confirmed that if “it detracts, isn’t right, it’s easy to take it off”.

“But let’s have a look at it; it’s a bit of an experiment.”

Former grand prix driver Anthony Davidson is not confident the wings will ever be seen in action.

“I think teams just like to see what people like us think about it before it actually gets put forward,” said the BBC radio commentator.

(GMM)

Drivers next year will be allowed to press a button on the steering wheel that spoils downforce in the rear wing and thus boosts the possibility for overtaking.

But driver veteran Jarno Trulli this weekend expressed fears that tinkering with the rear wings is a dangerous move.

Mercedes team boss Brawn, however, insists that the adjustable wing design includes a failsafe.

“The teams have worked on this a lot,” he said in Valencia.

“Should the system fail and is no longer adjustable, the wing will be in its normal position, so there will be no downforce lost,” added Brawn.

(GMM)

F1 drivers on Thursday sounded unconvinced about the debut next year of moveable ‘proximity’ rear wings.

The scheme, ratified by the FIA this week, will see chasing drivers able to press a button and boost straight-line speed if they are within a designated distance from the car in front, in a bid to improve the chances of overtaking.

But veteran Rubens Barrichello said in Valencia: “I don’t know if I like the idea that the one in front cannot use it and the one behind can.”

Robert Kubica had already voiced his opposition to the plan, and added on Thursday: “I don’t think there is a lot of entertainment in seeing cars overtake each other on a straight.

“To be honest, it’s a bit like a Playstation game when you have nitro or something.”

Mark Webber agreed: “It is good for the Playstation I think. Overtaking moves should be about pressurising, being skilful, and tactical.

“Yes we want to see more overtaking, but we also need to keep the element of skill involved in overtaking and not just hitting buttons, and not an IRL race where you pass each other four times per lap and everyone gets bored of that.”

And Force India’s Adrian Sutil added: “It’s very good for the show, it’s not so good from a driving point of view, because if you defend your position well it doesn’t really matter.”

Pirelli is F1′s new tyre supplier for 2011-2013, it was announced on Wednesday.

A raft of other decisions were also announced after a meeting in Geneva of the World Motor Sport Council.

As a response to the spygate and crashgate scandals, it is “under consideration” that staff of F1 teams must hold “specific licenses” from 2011 that can be revoked by the FIA.

And in the wake of the controversy involving Michael Schumacher in Monaco, the FIA has ruled that there will be no overtaking even when the safety car pulls in on the last lap of a race.

Lewis Hamilton’s fine and reprimand after qualifying in Canada has resulted in a new rule requiring drivers to stay below a “maximum time” set by the FIA on in-laps

Next year, the 107 per cent qualifying rule will reappear, and the FIA has also banned F-ducts and approved the debut of the proximity rear wing.

“In the race, you can’t use it (the wing) for the first two laps at all, but after that if you’re within a second of the car in front then you will be able to deploy it,” McLaren’s engineering director Paddy Lowe said on Wednesday.

“So that will be very interesting.  That’s a FOTA initiative to improve the show and I think it’s very exciting.”

And for the return of KERS, the minimum car-plus-driver weight will increase by a further 20kg to 640kg.

Meanwhile, a “four-race probationary super license” has been approved for Renault’s official third driver Ho-Pin Tung.

(GMM)

Jun.16 (GMM)  Robert Kubica is the first formula one personality to oppose plans for ‘proximity wings’ in 2011.

After a meeting in Canada last weekend, teams agreed that drivers should next year be able to adjust their rear wings when they are following a car, in order to boost their chances of overtaking.

“I think that could be quite exciting,” said FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh, insisting that drivers will not be able to use the straightline speed-boosting system to defend position.

FOTA’s technical chairman Ross Brawn added: “It’s going to be an enhanced F-duct, where the car that is following will be allowed to reduce its drag to attack the car in front.

“I think that will give a lot more opportunity for overtaking.”

But Renault driver Kubica insists that grands prix have been exciting enough in 2010 without the radical innovation.

“And secondly,” he told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, “why it is only now that people are noticing that overtaking is difficult?

“I watched my first formula one race in 1997, and there was not much overtaking then,” noted the Pole.

Apr.29 (GMM) Charlie Whiting has green-lighted Silverstone’s new ‘Arena’ section for use at the 2010 British grand prix in July.

The FIA’s race director, official starter and safety and technical delegate toured the 760 metre section – featuring six new corners – earlier this week.

The layout was then launched officially for dignitaries and the media on Thursday.

“Charlie Whiting was here yesterday,” confirmed the track’s managing director Richard Phillips, “and we walked the circuit and we’ve got our Grade A licence for the next three years.”

With MotoGP being held at Silverstone this year, it was decided that a new layout was necessary for safety reasons — particularly the proximity of the famous bridge at the now-bypassed Bridge corner.

The renovation has cost 5m pounds sterling, with riders and drivers to turn right instead of left at the old Abbey chicane entry before embarking on a section incorporating the old National straight, renamed Wellington.

The new layout rejoins the old circuit with a faster entry to the ‘Brooklands’ corner near the end of the lap.