Modifications have been made to the kerbs located outside the sweeping Turn 12, 13, and 14 sections following complaints from Formula 1 drivers during last year's Qatar Grand Prix.
The aim behind the changes is to minimise the risk of damage to the tyres as well as the cars, particularly when a driver runs wide over the kerbs and has to rejoin the track.
The decision was made in conjunction with not only Michelin, the exclusive supplier of the Hypercar class in the WEC, but also F1's tyre partner Pirelli. The FIM, the governing body of MotoGP, also agreed to the changes.
This suggests that the updated kerbs will remain in place when MotoGP heads to Qatar next weekend for the opening round of the season, as well as when F1 returns to the Gulf nation in December.
"It was agreed with the circuit to grind down the peak and sharp trailing edges of the 'Misano'-style kerbs at Turns 12, 13 and 14 to reduce the risk of sidewall damage when a car runs wide and rejoins from the direction of the run-off area," the FIA said in a statement issued to Autosport.
Several hypercar drivers have already urged caution about kerb usage after trying out the circuit for the first time during the Prologue pre-season test and free practice ahead of Saturday's Qatar 1812km round.
Toyota driver Sebastien Buemi warned about potential disqualifications from kerb overuse, with hypercars also subject to similar rules regarding plank wear as F1.
"If you do it for 10 hours, the plank is not going to be legal at the end of the race. I think the GTs can gain time, but we don't [by going over the kerbs]," Buemi told Autosport.
Source: Autosport