The Formula 1 British Grand Prix Is out of the Pits With Rhinopatch

The last Formula 1 British Grand Prix to be held at Silverstone had to be a show stopping event. The safety, quality and speed of the track is always of paramount importance to the drivers and teams and with minor irregularities noted on track test days, ASI Solutions were called in to ensure the track was race-perfect.

At speeds of over 160mph it is imperative that the track surface is faultless. The ground clearance of a modern Formula 1 racing car is minimal and the slightest deviation in the surface can result in the barge board underneath the car making contact with the track, impacting the aerodynamics of the cars.

During testing for the British Grand Prix, a few irregularities in the track surface had been reported by the drivers. The contracting company responsible for the track at Silverstone was already aware of the Rhinopatch process and they called in ASI.

Following inspection of the track issues immediately prior to the start official testing, Keith Rogers | Senior Operations Manager at ASI Solutions plc was able to confirm that the Rhinopatch process would be the perfect solution to safely remove the deflections.

Track repair work was carried out on Saturday 28th June 2008, the weekend immediately before the 2008 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix.

The exact location of the high spots was found using a straight edge spirit level. In order to ensure the best final surface, a Rhinopatch heater (RP36) was placed over the defects on a very low heat setting. It was then possible to raise the temperature of the surface slightly in order to compact and remove the deflections using an 80cm twin drum vibrating roller, without affecting the integrity of the surfacing material.

The Rhinopatch repairs were carried out successfully in various locations at the exit from the pit lane and towards the end of the hangar straight.

The repairs were proven to be effective over the course of the next week’s track testing in preparation for the 2008 Formula 1 British Grand Prix, and again as McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton raced to a brilliant victory during the incredible race.

As a result of the rain, the conditions were often treacherous and were worsened by the heavy downpour in the middle of the race. Drivers were slipping and sliding around the track due to the weather conditions but the surface stayed solid. Lewis Hamilton | Winner of the 2008 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix stated after the race “That, was the toughest win of my career, but definitely the best.”

Keith Rogers | Senior Operations Manager who was on site thoroughly enjoyed his day “It was an incredibly exciting project to be involved with especially as I am an avid motorsports enthusiast. It was great to see the versatility of our process in action.”