The Interlagos circuit is offering a round-the-clock protection service for Formula One drivers at this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, in an effort to avoid a repeat of Jenson Button's attempted carjacking last year.
Button was uninjured in the 2010 attack, which happened when armed robbers approached his car as he was leaving the circuit after the qualifying session.But the incident cast fresh concerns over the security of the Brazilian GP, with a spate of robberies and hold-ups affecting team personnel in recent years.
According to a report from the UK Times newspaper, security has been tightened for the 2011 race, with police guards set to shepherd drivers all the way to and from their hotels and the circuit itself.
"We have more security this year," Button was quoted as saying by the newspaper when asked about the security situation.
"I think every driver you see will have a police escort in Brazil and they should do. It is a pity things happen when we leave the circuit, but I think it just shows the divide [between rich and poor]."
But he added: "You've got to spare a thought for everyone else [in the team] because they don't have police escorts."
"It happens every year with the mechanics or engineers. There's always someone who gets held up at gunpoint and their bags get taken.
"There is a great atmosphere, so, hopefully, we won't have any of those mishaps. I love the race, but I don't know what else they can do."
Meanwhile, the Interlagos circuit itself is set for changes in time for the 2012 race, following recent Brazilian stock car deaths at the track.
Both Paulo Kunze and Gustavo Sondermann died earlier this year at the notorious final kink, which has earned the nickname 'Tamburello de Interlagos' because of its high speed and shallow run-off area.
"There are a couple of minor changes to the circuit [for this weekend] but next year there could be something much bigger," FIA race director Charlie Whiting said in the official F1 preview of the race.
"We're hoping to build a new pit entry and a larger run-off around the last corner, but this is a big job as it will require removing a couple of permanent grandstands."
He added: "We've had assurances from the city of Sao Paulo that they'll support this project."
Plans for changes to the track had originally been scheduled for 2011, however the project has now been pushed back.
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