Into the pits, F1 Testing

[Extra 300 Driver]

This year I am going to make the effort, as I has said for several years in the past!

I am going to go to Silverstone to see the F1 test in June. I know now you have to pay £10 but thats ok with me, I enjoy testing better than race day. Do you know if you can get into the pit area? I notice a lot of videos on youtube with peole in the pits but I gave done a google search and it seems that its only open to media, any way around this?

Cheers all

[megy]

Hi Nick

Affraid it is strictly for media only, I have been for several years now, and am finding it more difficult year on year. I will be submitting my applications shortly, I can keep you informed on whats going to be needed if you like.

[Extra 300 Driver]

megy said:

Hi Nick

Affraid it is strictly for media only, I have been for several years now, and am finding it more difficult year on year. I will be submitting my applications shortly, I can keep you informed on whats going to be needed if you like.

Cheers, I have a few 'contacts' but if you could let me know I would appreciate it.

[MrKipling43]

It's pointless, mate - all the teams put barriers up in front of their pit garages and my own media accredited photographer got a bollocking by a Renault guy for taking photos over the fences they'd put up.

Only the photographers who are allowed in the pitlane when the tests are running will get to see anything of interest.

Sorry to piss on your bonfire...

[sixpackpert]

I used to calibrate the weighbridge at Siverstone and managed to make it coincide with testing , trust me there is no way to get into the pit lane without a media pass. We had to drive directly behind the garages and got moved on by security if we stopped!

The weighbridge is right at the end of the pit straight and having an F1 car blast through when standing about 10 feet away was awesome!

[Martin Keene]

How hard is it to get a media pass for Silverstone? Is it much harder than it is to get a 'Trade' ticket for Autosport for example?

[flemke]

Martin Keene said:

How hard is it to get a media pass for Silverstone? Is it much harder than it is to get a 'Trade' ticket for Autosport for example?

It can't be easier.

[sidaorb]

Martin Keene said:

How hard is it to get a media pass for Silverstone?

How hard is it to find rocking horse gonads!!!

Carl

ps See you tomorrow Megy

Edited by sidaorb on Wednesday 14th March 18:47

[F355GTS]

I've been to a number and good fortune has it that I have a mate who works at Renault F1 so get a friends and family pass. I've taken loads of pics from the areas they setup in the pitlane without anybody complaining.


Examples at

www.collinsclan.co.uk/Pages/Cars/silverstone020605/index.html

and

www.collinsclan.co.uk/Pages/Cars/silverstonef1260406/index.html

scroll down on each page to see the pitlane pics

Edited by F355GTS on Wednesday 14th March 19:07

Edited by F355GTS on Wednesday 14th March 19:07

[Marc W]

Members of the Silverstone racing club are allowed into the pitlane during the lunchbreak. I'm not a member but I know some people who are!

www.silverstoneracingclub.co.uk/

[megy]

sidaorb said:

Martin Keene said:

How hard is it to get a media pass for Silverstone?

How hard is it to find rocking horse gonads!!!

Carl

ps See you tomorrow Megy

Edited by sidaorb on Wednesday 14th March 18:47

You going Carl, on a pass or spectating, if you fancy meeting up there mail me your number and we can arrange somewhere.

[tank slapper]

Marc W said:

Members of the Silverstone racing club are allowed into the pitlane during the lunchbreak. I'm not a member but I know some people who are!

www.silverstoneracingclub.co.uk/

When I went in 2005 you could buy a day membership which got you access. There were barriers, but you could still see some interesting stuff. It was possible to go into the paddock during the afternoon session as well.

[Marc W]

They may do that again (hopefully!), but they had scrapped it last year so I didn't mention it!

[lazyitus]

Extra 300 Driver said:

Do you know if you can get into the pit area?

It can be done. A couple of years ago, me and a friend just got our heads down and walked over the infield connection bridge. Nobody stopped us and we ended up behind the pits.

A quick glance at some empty pit garages revealed an incorrectly closed door. We used this to gain access into the pits and casually walked up to the Renault pit garage near the end and filtered into the small amount of guests assembled at the front.

In came Alonso in his fantastic sounding car and pulled up right next to us when the pit crew pushed his car back into the garage. We couldn't believe our luck! We spent three minutes there until the orange bib wearing Silverstone 'security' asked us to leave.

Not to be outdone, we walked further infield and low and behold, found ourselves standing next to an unused part of track that Ralph Schumacher was using to test the new launch control on his Beemer.

We stood with one of his engineers, chatting and watching Ralph doing standing starts. Literally, right infront of us. Ralph gave us a kind of 'what are you doing here' glance as he got out of the car, took his lid off, jumped into a 5 series and darted off (presumably for a pee).

Great day out, a bit cheeky but no harm done.

Edited by lazyitus on Thursday 15th March 08:48

[Martin Keene]

flemke said:

Martin Keene said:

How hard is it to get a media pass for Silverstone? Is it much harder than it is to get a 'Trade' ticket for Autosport for example?

It can't be easier.

Google is my friend right?