Silverstone chooses asphalt run-offs over gravel

Gravel traps came under the spotlight at last weekend's Australian Grand Prix when Michael Schumacher's Ferrari was launched into a series of rolls after it hit a gravel trap side-on.

Although gravel and high-friction tarmac both have their plus points, the sport's governing body, the FIA, is believed to regard the asphalt option as effective over a wider range of scenarios.

High-friction asphalt is especially effective at stopping a spinning or sliding car in a gradual manner and without the danger of rolling. Gravel's main weakness is when a car digs in and flips, due to the angle of impact or an uneven surface.

Silverstone is to be refurbished before the 2002 British GP and Jackie Stewart, president of track owners BRDC, told Autosport's sister publication Motoring News: "The high-friction asphalt means that the cars slide, but are retarded. There's no question that in Schumacher's accident he went in sideways and dug into the gravel, tipping him over.

"When we re-plan Silverstone it will almost certainly be using the new asphalt, and I think other circuits will follow suit faster than people think."

Hungary and Spa are expected to have the high-friction asphalt in place at certain corners for this year's Grands Prix, while the FIA is recommending that new circuits include the material in their plans from the outset. But Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine expressed a note of caution that the asphalt is not always the perfect solution.

"If it's a brake or suspension failure, asphalt isn't going to help you," he said. "So you've got to say what is the most likely accident and then do something for that."

McLaren boss Ron Dennis added: "I personally believe that the high-friction surface is a better all-round solution. If a car is spinning, and tyres are lateral to it, that will decelerate the car. It's an unproven theory and I don't think anything should be implemented until it is properly researched."