Silverstone GP circuit - What's it like...?
Discussion
Much less scarey than it used to be since they moved the wall at Woodcote, and put in the most humungous gravel trap.
I would say it deoes have some rather technical sections. Also its very long so not easy to learn. Its very fast, so favours more powerful cars and very slippery in the wet.
I haven't driven the new (Arena) layout but 8/10 of the circuit is the same between the two layouts. Bridge, which is only on the old ("Bridge") layout was a fantastic corner, I'm sorry to lose that.
I would say it deoes have some rather technical sections. Also its very long so not easy to learn. Its very fast, so favours more powerful cars and very slippery in the wet.
I haven't driven the new (Arena) layout but 8/10 of the circuit is the same between the two layouts. Bridge, which is only on the old ("Bridge") layout was a fantastic corner, I'm sorry to lose that.
habanero said:
Hi guys and gals,
My question is, as the title says - Silverstone GP circuit - What's it like...?
May well be breaking my trackday virginity there soon.
Any bends to watch out for?
Short run offs?
Any pointers would be grately appreciated.
If your car is quiet enough, Bedford is probably the best place to start.My question is, as the title says - Silverstone GP circuit - What's it like...?
May well be breaking my trackday virginity there soon.
Any bends to watch out for?
Short run offs?
Any pointers would be grately appreciated.
both the old GP layout and the new Arena layout are superb (my favourite track actually)
it is good for a Novice... nice and wide, good visibility and fairly easy top learn where the track goes
go for it
what car/bike are you doing it in/on?
it is good for a Novice... nice and wide, good visibility and fairly easy top learn where the track goes
go for it
what car/bike are you doing it in/on?
Edited by y2blade on Thursday 18th November 15:21
Nice circuit with a good mix of corners (Bridge at least, haven't done the new one). Slippery as the proverbial in the wet and very fast in places, which means closing speeds can be quite high for different levels of car/driver. There are several decent straights to get past people and allow them past though, which is good. And I can personally vouch for the expansiveness of the run off area. 
Not as easy to learn (on a basic 'where the track goes' level) as somewhere like Brands Hatch Indy, but perhaps better than Bedford, which is a great track, but utterly featureless for finding braking points etc. On the up side, Silverstone is pretty flat and compared to Brands Hatch, for example, so you don't have to worry too much about gradients and cambers unsettling the car.
It is quite expensive usually though I believe?
Not as easy to learn (on a basic 'where the track goes' level) as somewhere like Brands Hatch Indy, but perhaps better than Bedford, which is a great track, but utterly featureless for finding braking points etc. On the up side, Silverstone is pretty flat and compared to Brands Hatch, for example, so you don't have to worry too much about gradients and cambers unsettling the car.
It is quite expensive usually though I believe?
New arena circuit is fabulous but watch the camber coming onto the new pit straight and don't try to hold it in if you go in too fast as you will spear into the new FIA grade concrete wall. If you do go in too hot just let it run wide as there is plenty of run off with Tarmac.
Watch the following video if you want a rough idea of lines:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OvbEkAbmes&fea...
Watch the following video if you want a rough idea of lines:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OvbEkAbmes&fea...
For your first event I would advise an airfield circuit or somewhere like bedford that has plenty of run off - once you are confident at high speed driving I would then take on one of the major circuits.
I ended up in the gravel at Brands on my first track day as I was trying to keep up with drivers much faster than me as didn't want to appear slow!
Trackdays have quiet a few airfields events - http://www.trackdays.co.uk/
I ended up in the gravel at Brands on my first track day as I was trying to keep up with drivers much faster than me as didn't want to appear slow!
Trackdays have quiet a few airfields events - http://www.trackdays.co.uk/
Have done Silverstone GP four times this year and I think its great. Its very wide with masses of run-off, so is safer that quite a few other circuits, and there is some elevation change so its more interesting the Bedford. The TDO should warn you about both Woodcote and Club and the take-no-prisoners concrete pitwalls that immediately follow.
The OP said
"what's it like" - watch vids on YouTube ideally from car of type you will be driving - loads on there - watching an F1 car or Radical and then driving a standard lower powered road car will be less helpful than one of a similar power/weight
"corners to watch" This will be dealt with on the briefing and as others have said it's the corners before the old and new pit walls but don't stress out
"pointers" without question book some instruction it will be the best investment you can make and take it steady and keep an eye on your mirrors as you learn what is a massive circuit - oh and enjoy it
When are you going and what will you be driving ?
"what's it like" - watch vids on YouTube ideally from car of type you will be driving - loads on there - watching an F1 car or Radical and then driving a standard lower powered road car will be less helpful than one of a similar power/weight
"corners to watch" This will be dealt with on the briefing and as others have said it's the corners before the old and new pit walls but don't stress out
"pointers" without question book some instruction it will be the best investment you can make and take it steady and keep an eye on your mirrors as you learn what is a massive circuit - oh and enjoy it
When are you going and what will you be driving ?
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