Vale Silverstone!

Andreas, you're a little out of date - nowadays there's a dual carriageway all the way from the nearest motorways in both directions, and a junction onto another dual-carriageway right past the gates; plus all the backlanes; and the carparks are all tarmac or gravelled now. (2000? was an aberration caused by Bernie moving it to a slot just after a very wet winter)

Silverstone is a 3-mile circuit with massive runoffs and massive carparks and nothing much near it - both Brands and Donington are hemmed in by motorways, villages, airports, woodland, hills.........just look at the 3 on google maps and compare them, Brands and Donington would both fit into Silverstone's carparks with room to spare. OK, Silverstone is an atmosphere-free zone, but so is F1..............

And Bernie's last pronouncement was that F1 in London was his goal. It's all part of a cunning plan.......

Paul M

 

God it will take some real drastic changes at Donnington to bring it up to world class standards. I know Donnington very well indeed and i just dont get it.
Although i am pleased that some one else is being given a chance to provide Bernie's circus with a world class arena. But for the life of me i dont know how it will be done. Unless there is a complete tear down and rebuild. I would love to know what the conclusions were regarding choosing Donnington.
No wonder the Donnington owner was pissed at the Moto GP track invasion 3 weeks ago by the celebrating crowds at the end of the race. He obviously knew the track was in the running for the British GP.

 

I prefer Tilke tracks because they generally have better racing.

Mayalsia, Turkey, China, Bahrain. They aren't great, but they certainly aren't the worse tracks on the calendar.

 

haven't we seen this already ? ... thanks anyway

 

Sorry to ruin your day, cool guy.

 

just thought you were one of those who had an inside guy ....

you guys here are a source of information and amusement, sometimes the same person can provide both sources

everyday above ground is a great day,

 

Threads merged.

 

I was there in 2004 and it was abismal. I spent a very long time in that dual carriageway (funny word, we weren't in Amish country ).

The "grand" stands are still anything but grand. I would only return to Silverstone if they'd ever build the planned real grandstand for the S/F straight or if a BRDC member would invite me into their paddock (very unlikely).

Another thing that sucks from a viewer's perspective is the lack of elevation changes: You basically see the cars only go by. Very much unlike e.g. Brands Hatch where you can see them in a variety of corners. IMHO best viewing point in Silverstone is the arena like complex just before the end of the lap. Those "grand" stands at least have a roof. The BRDC chose the location of their club house wisely.

 

I was there yesterday, we sailed in non-stop on that 'Carriageway' (or 'turnpike'? didn't see a gatekeeper with a pike barring our way for the toll!)

There's open seating round much of the track, and a lot of covered stands, although the ones on the start/finish straight are uncovered for some reason (they replaced covered ones - maybe BCE didn't like the old ones' colour or something!).

We watched from Club, where we could see from Stowe to Abbey, and at Becketts where we could see the whole series of swerves. At Brands much of the view of the 'bowl' of the short circuit is obscured by the pits and by trees. If F1 goes to Donington, the huge runoff areas required at Craner and the Old Hairpin (which is the only bit where you can see a long sweep of track) will kill the spectacle. Anyway, Tilke might put some 1st-gear corners there.............

Personally I've never liked the Brooklands-Luffield section of Silverstone; even for historics it's 1st gear, like watching thoroughbred racehorses trying to gallop round a dog track..........

Paul M

 

i was there too yday- complete nightmare getting out at 4.30pm , re directed all over the place from track. a 2 hour journey took 4 1/2 helicopter really is only civilised option -if some one else is paying

 

Too late. He's got the contract. 100 mil pounds budget.

 

There is one good thing about Donington: They have already the biggest F1 collection anywhere (about 120 cars), so that's an added attraction for visitors.