Not going to Silvo F1 GP next year...

[kybo]

...thinking of doing a BTCC weekend instead. But what's the best circuit for spectator viewing, thrills/spills and places for a 'tog? I want to be able to take plenty of fence-less action shots!!

Muchos Grassy-ass

Scott

[zac510]

Pretty much any circuit but Silverstone!

[jonv]

Rockingham. See all the circuit from grandstand and take photos from the pit roof.

[10 Pence Short]

Croft is very good for getting close to the action areas. There is banking around turn1 and two where there's usually plenty of action, plus the complex around the back of the circuit.

[kevin ritson]

Most are pretty good, for example:

Snetty - fences aren't too high. It's flat but Chicane or Esses are good for snapping.
Thruxton - only a couple of places to spectate but lots of action at the Campbell-Cobb-Seagrave complex and fine for photos
Brands - great for spectating but high fences. Think they might be using the GP loop next year. If they are then the fences around there are much lower.
Silverstone - You can normally get in the grandstands so can be higher than the fences but it's not the best circuit.
Donny - a good choice - lots of viewing from the Craners to McLeans and it's on banking so fencing isn't a problem.

[kybo]

Slightly off topic but is the BTCC as locked down as F1 in terms of pit/paddock access? Would love to get up close to the cars/drivers in the pits. Do all circuits give the same amount of access or are some more relaxed than others?

Thx
Scott

[Dr KT]

BTCC is also very separted from the fans, although if you on a Saturday, or better still on a Friday, you can alot more closer.

Croft is very good for that.

[BigDaveTheMighty]

kybo said:

Slightly off topic but is the BTCC as locked down as F1 in terms of pit/paddock access? Would love to get up close to the cars/drivers in the pits. Do all circuits give the same amount of access or are some more relaxed than others?

Thx
Scott

There's Pitlane walkabout at most meetings, letting you get close to the drivers, teams and cars. I think the drivers HAVE to attend it, so you should be able to get lots of autographs etc.

Hope that helps

Dave

[mat205125]

Always the Brand Hatch Indy circuit rounds. Apart from Thruxton, as it's just down the road, these are the BTCC rounds that I go to.

[RJB_666]

I went three BTCC meetings last year aswell as the F1 at Silverstone, unsure about going Silverstone this year as there could only be around 4 cars on the grid. I went to Donington, Oulton Park and Silverstone. I thought the best out of the BTCC meetings was at Donington, great circuit viewing around craner curbs. Access seems to be very good at these meetings. If your quick to get to the pit lane walk you should have the oppertunity to meet a few of the drivers. At Donington they had the first outing of the superleague formula car so i only got there towards the end. If you go Silverstone though you will be able to get in some of the grand stands for no extra charge. The tickets are only around £25 so it's worth going to a few meetings.

[kybo]

I am in agreement with people regarding Silvo; the track does look disappointing, but I like Luffield stands for shots so I may have to do it (much to the consternation of some ) but I will defo get another track in. Brands is appealing to me a lot, Donno is just around the corner from me and I've never been to the Craner side of the track (I had a media pass for the Superleague- loved it) and Croft also sounds good. If the prices are as cheap as that then I'll definitely be looking to do more than one.

If anyone has a photo (or links) to share from any of these tracks (please indicate track and corner) so I can better gauge how good each track looks, submitting it on this thread would be amazing.

Thanks to you all,
Scott

[RJB_666]

Donington park, Craner curbs,

Formula Renault



Ginetta Juniors



Not very good shots to be fair.

[Vette_1978]

From my experience the best pics have come from Brands. Inside of Druids, looking back up to Paddock Hill and entrance to Clearways are all good.

Croft is good, got a series of belters at a club bike meet when a guy lost it exiting the chicane. Nice mid air bike shot and youo can see his visor disappear on one of the rolls.

Hoping to do BSB at Cadwell and view near the mountain.

Of course if you want decent pictures and close action without any fences then go to the TT!

[touring fan]

kybo said:

Slightly off topic but is the BTCC as locked down as F1 in terms of pit/paddock access? Would love to get up close to the cars/drivers in the pits. Do all circuits give the same amount of access or are some more relaxed than others?

Thx
Scott

No its not 'locked down' for paddock access.
Apart from at Brands Hatch (because of the limited space in their centre paddock), the BTCC paddock is always open to spectators both Saturday & Sunday to come and go and wander around as they please.

Edited by touring fan on Thursday 1st January 10:13

[kybo]

Vette_1978 said:

From my experience the best pics have come from Brands. Inside of Druids, looking back up to Paddock Hill and entrance to Clearways are all good.

Croft is good, got a series of belters at a club bike meet when a guy lost it exiting the chicane. Nice mid air bike shot and youo can see his visor disappear on one of the rolls.

Great, thanks for that! It is looking like Brands and Croft (at least!!) i'm gonna check out the info on these tracks as I've never been to them before - are the shots from Druids free of fences?

Touring Fan said:

Apart from at Brands Hatch (because of the limited space in their centre paddock), the BTCC paddock is always open to spectators both Saturday & Sunday to come and go and wander around as they please.

Excellent news.

Thanks for the pics RJB - actually seeing it is better than trying to imagine what its like - good stuff.

Scott

PS - TT! hmm, interesting, not considered that, until now!!

[hawk 427]

croft is very accesable to spectators on the sunday raceday (btcc)even more so on the saturday

[AJI]

Have to also agree with Croft... good view of the track at turns 1 and 2 on the banking.
Donnington is also good, as shown in previous post at the bottom of the craner curves.
Been to watch BTCC at both venues and had a good day. Also seen the FiA GT cars at Donnington, I would chose going to watch these rather than F1 at Silverstone any day of the week.

IMO Silverstone is one of the worst spectator circuits in the UK. Although it is one of the best driver circuits !!

[CommanderJameson]

I like Croft a lot and go a number of times every year, but remember, the weather on BTCC day does one of two things:

• It pisses down all day
• It scorches the hair off the top of your head

[King Rolex]

knock Hill

[LongQ]

kevin ritson said:

Donny - a good choice - lots of viewing from the Craners to McLeans and it's on banking so fencing isn't a problem.

Hmm.

It may be re-opened next year but at the end of last season the entire infield was inaccessible to all but the people who have suites in the hospitality block alongside the Craner Curves. IF the developements for 2010 are under way by then I suspect that could remain the case for next season.

If they are not the 2009/2010 closed could see a lot of activity.

The new track developement will effectively remove most of the infield anyway. Actually probably all of it.

That would make the outside of the track somewhat busier than normal and I am suspicious that more fencing may appear, as it did along the pit wall last year.

So perhaps worth checking in March/April before making plans for Donny.