RE: Audi one-two at Silverstone six-hour

[GrahamG]

+1 to Zebedee's thoughts above

[neilsie]

zebedee said:

because Silverstone is an embarrasment of a circuit. A spangly new wing with a hopeless media centre with no windows and all the infrastructure set up for the old layout. Gravel, metal fences, cones, buses... It is a disgusting mess and I am ashamed of it. No thought for the fans whatsover or the experience of being there (which is basically quite unpleasant). I'd take a race meeting at Oulton Park any time!

Don't worry there weren't that many stalls in the "fanzone". Though what they did have was good - appreciate that it's hard to cater for the many ages, but they had :
Dodgems
Trampolines
Sedgeway
Remote Control Cars
Race Simulator
Zorbing
a bike display
Painting for children

- and they were all free which is excellent.

the WEC tent was ok: it was run by the very nice team at Travel Destinations.

However, that's the only positive thing i can say. It really is an appalling section of the circuit - caters very much to the "vip" - and as per previous no bridge or tunnel - maybe to keep away the lesser unwashed?
Example on Saturday there was torrential weather - the only covered eating for joe public was back up at the National Pits - and of course a long crowded bus ride away.

There were plenty of buses designated "VIP", which were strictly policed causing many sodden people including Children forced to stand in the cold & wet waiting for the 2 public double deckers - which people were using to get away from the rain, hence the crowding. catch-22..

The only plus side of the Stowe end of the circuit is thats its altitude is lower than the national end and with a nearby wood, the wind is reduced = warmer.

Overall a badly organised circuit and organised event.

All it needs is :
1) shelter - from rain, wind & sun. Its an ex-airfield as such gets extremes of all weathers.
2) relocate fanzone back to national pits. Forget the international pits - the friendlier teams aren't there anyway.
3) Flatten the international pit straight so there is visibility into the whole of the pit lane.

[zebedee]

if the straight was levelled to the same level as the pit lane, there would be a big old hill for the cars to crest before they got to the Loop (just like they have to coming out of the pits)! Not safe at racing speeds. Quite clearly no consultation was made with the likes of the media, punters, teams etc - Bernie's circus just said what they wanted and it seems Silverstone bent over backwards to do it, ripping the heart out of the place in the process. They should be ashamed, I certainly am when I show people the circuit for the first time and it isn't my fault.

[Great Dane]

this has been discussed when the new 'facilities' opened - it is obvious that it was built on the cheap and in a hurry and now there is no money for improvements..

[burman]

GrahamG said:

+1 to Zebedee's thoughts above

+2 also I did not make it this year due to a puncture on saturday so nowhere open to fix it. followed some of the race on Motors tv, and fell over laughing when I spied the official photograhers in the pits wearing cycle type helmets!!
All the latest elf and safety at Stalag Silverstone!!
Such a shame as I have had loads of good times at the old pits especially on the Friday practice days,
The circuit itself is crap for ordinary spectators now, starting with having to park 2 miles outside the bloody place. Thank the Lord Brands and Donington never got the GP.

[zebedee]

The helmets is not a Silverstone thing, it is an ACO (or possibly FIA/ACO) thing.

[Ahonen]

burman said:

followed some of the race on Motors tv, and fell over laughing when I spied the official photograhers in the pits wearing cycle type helmets!!
All the latest elf and safety at Stalag Silverstone!!
Such a shame as I have had loads of good times at the old pits especially on the Friday practice days,

Helmets are mandatory in FIA GT, DTM, WEC, as are fireproof overalls. Not F1, admittedly, but lots of championships mandate them these days. After the guy was collected by the Audi in the pit lane at LM a couple of years ago it has been on the radar.

You would only have been in the pit lane at LMS events if you had a press pass. Members of the public would have been ejected.