The Formula 1 season curtain-raiser, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, has finally been given the go-ahead after a coroners' verdict on the death of a marshall at the course last year. Graham Beveridge was killed by a stray wheel after Jacques Villeneuve's BAR crashed into the back of Ralf Schumacher's Williams, sending debris flying into the air and through a safety fence where it struck Mr Beveridge.
Victoria state coroner Graeme Johnstone, in his report into Beveridge's death, concluded that the tragedy was avoidable as the risk of debris flying through gaps in the safety fencing has been known for years prior to the running of the 2001 race.
However, despite this criticism, the world governing body, FIA, has confirmed that this year's event will go ahead as scheduled on March 3 and issued a statement on the matter. "The FIA sets minimum standards, below which it will not authorise an international motor race. It anticipates that the Australian Grand Prix Corporation will continue to endeavour to exceed these standards," read the statement.
"It must not be forgotten that by far the most dangerous element of a visit to a grand prix remains the drive to and from the circuit. It is to be hoped that the Melbourne coroner and local traffic police can now concentrate once again on road casualties, which remain a very serious and ongoing problem within their jurisdiction as in the rest of the world," it added.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
