Alonso backs France test for new Safety Car rule

(GMM) Double world champion Fernando Alonso has backed news that a new system for the deployment of the safety car will be trialled during practice for the French grand prix in two weeks.

The current SC rules are highly controversial, because the automatic closure of the pitlane upon deployment can penalise those drivers who are out of fuel and need to pit.

When asked about the Friday practice test scheduled for Magny Cours, Renault driver Alonso told the Spanish newspaper Diario AS: "A change would be better for everyone, because at the moment the safety car can ruin your race."

Before France, teams – who will then decide about officially implementing the rule only after Magny Cours – will also test the necessary ECU software at the forthcoming Barcelona test.

The precise details about the SC software are yet to emerge, but it is believed that drivers will activate the alternate ECU setting from the cockpit.