Silverstone in-season F1 test open to the public after British GP

A nice event to attend if you do not see the race. I hope to see this test and finally visit the circuit!!

Silverstone in-season F1 test open to the public after British GP - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

--Earlier this year, Autosport reported there will be two in-season tests in 2016, with Barcelona hosting the other.

The Tuesday and Wednesday tests at Silverstone will take place on July 12-13.

Silverstone will be the teams' final opportunity to test before the end of the season, with the Barcelona session pencilled in for May 17-18.

The Northamptonshire circuit last hosted testing since 2014 when it was the third and final in-season test of the year.

Barcelona and the Red Bull Ring hosted the two in-season tests last season, but the latter was unable to do so again this year as it is back-to-back with Silverstone on the calendar.

Tickets for the Silverstone test are expected to be available in the coming weeks.--

 

Why not just go to the race?

Be aware that unless you can get into the paddock (doubtful) watching testing can be really boring! You have no idea what's going on apart from a handful (if you're lucky!) turning a few laps here & there.

Cheers,
Ian

 

+1

If it's a nice day, you're close to the track and you have a day off...bring a mate, some beers and food and watch for a bit.

Not worth traveling for.

 

I really enjoy testing days. It's great being able to move all around the track and watch the cars from all different vantage points. You can always get a front line position. The team members seem to mingle with the crowds more freely. I also feel that watching live you can really get a much better feel for how well the car is handling.

 

+1 on moving around & lack of crowds.

Main reason I always enjoy Friday's at a GP - Very few people & easy to walk the track.(*)I'm probably wrong these days, but we used to stop in various grandstands without the 'correct' ticket too. We did that for the first couple of races at Indy.

My boys first GP was Indy 2002 and they 'got it' when we were in the (empty) grandstand opposite the pits. It's all steel & the noise of the V10's echoing around was just awe inspiring! "OK dad, now we get it!"..... I was one proud papa!

+1

IMO, there's few things that compare to watching F1 live. But, I don't think you're going to be doing any 'mingling' without a paddock pass, even on Friday these days.

Cheers,
Ian
(*) - Unless it's Spa in the rain!

 

+1 for me. The race up there is super crowded, chaotic and amazing from the tele and reading about it. Thats a good thing as the event is so popular and its the home for the most part of F1.

Id like to see a test session and see Silverstone! This might be a nice event to see, this years test. See and hear F1 and be at Silverstone but not be overwhelmed as a race day etc.

 

When I went to testing in Barcelona in 2009, there was no way in hell you would get into the paddock without a pass.

Moving around the track was free, go on any grandstand you wanted.

 

Maybe we should have an fchat meet at the test, put faces to all those names we love/hate. Heck, maybe some of the animosity can be dispatched away over a few Peronis! We could all vouch for each other into the owners forum too!

 

I'll likely be in the UK around that time in any case, so I'm keen.

For those attending the GP, would make it a lot easier for not having to leave the Sunday and be stuck in traffic for the rest of forever, instead stay another night, have as many beers as you can take. Hopefully weather is decent so can bbq.

 

+1

You planning on camping? That's what we used to do, even without any testing on Monday.

I've related the tale previously - we got pretty messed up with James Hunt one Sunday night.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Almost certainly, yes...the others in my party probably don't want to go through the expense of a hotel, and getting to/from the track when at a hotel is a pain if you don't use a helo. Maybe we can rent a camper van of some sort, saves having to build a ****ing tent! (see pic, my last attempt at tenting at Silverstone).

Probably won't be getting messed up with Kimi or another driver...but will ensure I'll drink enough so I won't remember I went tenting!
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+1

And trying to find a hotel in the same time zone is sketchy at best......

RV'ing it is something I've never done - that was always for the wealthy - Always struck me as the way to go back then. Didn't even matter if it was pissing down (as it often is of course.)

I vaguely recall your previous camping nightmare now. Good stuff!

Cheers,
Ian

 

I think I'll book a hotel! Never fancied camping, there's a few hotels that will have room once race fans have left

 

Oh, if you're just going to the testing days, no problem. Pretty reasonably priced in that part of the world too.

Can't recall the names now, but there's a couple in Northampton where the teams stay, so you may get 'lucky' and stay with them too. They're generally pretty entertaining in the bar after work......

Cheers,
Ian

 

I've never really enjoyed silver stone as a race, probably because Ferrari don't have a massive strike rate there to be honest, so no surprise, but if a few chaps are going to testing I'd like to go just to have some fun, and hopefully show I'm not the arse that comes across when krafty and the others are causing arguments