Last night's announcement of a planned breakaway series by eight key F1 teams may make the final British Grand Prix at Silverstone the end of an era in more ways than one. (Currently the 2010 British GP is scheduled for Donington, but given yesterday's news would you put money on it?)
See the British GP at M-B World
If you can't make it to Silverstone, or simply don't fancy the ticket prices, Mercedes-Benz World has a free offer that's definitely worth considering. We've just been tipped a wink that as well as showing the entire race on a giant screen TV, the following activities are planned at the M-B World facility in Weybridge - located on the old Brooklands track:
Silver Arrows Display Team - A track display with four Mercedes AMG's incorporating sideways action on the Wet Skid Circle... should be a crowd pleaser!
F1 presentation - Including a 1938 W154 Mercedes that was driven by Fangio in 1951 on display with Lewis Hamilton's 2008 racing car next to it.
Special AMG Passenger rides for £10 (Not free, but great value for a thrilling ride on the circuit in a 6.2litre V8 AMG, says our man on the spot.)
There will also be a live link-up with McLaren at Silverstone at 12:10 to give you all the latest updates from the centre of the action.
Meanwhile, The Festival of Speed also offers the chance to get up close and personal to the latest and greatest current F1 cars and drivers. According to the latest press release, F1 attendees at Goodwood this year will include:
Ferrari in action in 2008
Scuderia Ferrari - the popular F1 team will be here from Italy with its test driver Marc Gené to demonstrate the title-winning F2008
McLaren-Mercedes - the MP4/23 that took Lewis Hamilton to F1 World Championship victory last year will be in action all weekend, with Lewis Hamilton and team test driver Pedro de la Rose at the controls. Hamilton and de la Rosa will also be driving one lucky Festival of Speed ticket buyer up the Goodwood hill each day in a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren supercar. Goodwood will also be making Lewis Hamilton's dream come true when he drives the 1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 of his F1 hero Ayton Senna on Sunday 5 July.
Brawn GP - The newest and to date most successful F1 team in the 2009 pit lane will bring along the Brawn-Mercedes BGP 001 and British hero Jenson Button on Sunday 5 July
Red Bull - the Red Bull-Cosworth STR1 will smoke its tyres all weekend with Mark Webber and David Coulthard behind the wheel
Toyota - the TF108 will be in action, with Timo Glock demonstrating its pace and power
Williams-Toyota - the great British team will be at the Festival with the FW29 car as part of the 40th anniversary of Sir Frank Williams involvement in Formula One. An number of other significant Williams F1 cars and drivers will be on hand at Goodwood to honour Sir Frank's 40 years in F1, including Damon Hill, David Coulthard, Alan Jones and Riccardo Patrese
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