British GP Friday Practice - Worth going?
Discussion
Am thinking of taking the other half to the Friday practice session for the British GP next year as she had really started getting into her F1 this season and I would like her to get a good feel of the cars in real life and the noise.
I have only ever been on the Sunday so not really sure what to expect on the Friday and if it is worth the ticket price for a days entertainment - is there much else on besides the two practice runs? Qualifying for support races, off-circuit entertainment etc?
Thought Friday would be better for a first timer as might get to see a bit more of the cars on track and a feel for the weekend without the massive crowds and the need for a grandstand seat to really see some proper F1 action.
Experiences/opinions please!
I have only ever been on the Sunday so not really sure what to expect on the Friday and if it is worth the ticket price for a days entertainment - is there much else on besides the two practice runs? Qualifying for support races, off-circuit entertainment etc?
Thought Friday would be better for a first timer as might get to see a bit more of the cars on track and a feel for the weekend without the massive crowds and the need for a grandstand seat to really see some proper F1 action.
Experiences/opinions please!
friday practice is good but you can tend to get a bit lost because cars do as much or as little as they want. qualifying would be far better, naturally costing a bit more but it can get exciting,
unless things have changed, and its worth checking!, most grandstand seats are unreserved on the friday so a general admission ticket will suffice as that allows you to wander round the whole circuit and find a seat if you want one at a corner. if you just want to see the cars, friday is a good day, its a lot less busy and the atmosphere is still quite good. mobility around the track is easier too.
on the friday there will be practice and qualifying for most of the support races, F2, porsche supercup and a few others, this year we had Radicals and another single seater race.
unless things have changed, and its worth checking!, most grandstand seats are unreserved on the friday so a general admission ticket will suffice as that allows you to wander round the whole circuit and find a seat if you want one at a corner. if you just want to see the cars, friday is a good day, its a lot less busy and the atmosphere is still quite good. mobility around the track is easier too.
on the friday there will be practice and qualifying for most of the support races, F2, porsche supercup and a few others, this year we had Radicals and another single seater race.
I went and the atmosphere is certainly very special, 85K people there for FP1 & FP2! Remember next year that the circuit will effectively be swapping ends with the F1 now between Club and Abbey and the supports apparently taking up the current pitlane at the north end.
Or, you could do what I plan to do and go to the 750MC the same weekend
Or, you could do what I plan to do and go to the 750MC the same weekend
i went in '07 on the friday and it was pretty good, the first half of each session does tend to be a bit quiet but equally the crowd whilst good is smaller than the rest of the weekend so you can walk around the track and see what its like from lots of locations, as i remember you could sit in nearly all the grandstands with just the normal friday ticket too
It's well worth going on the friday as even then the atmosphere is great.
Also you definitely have free run of the grandstands (except Club Silverstone) so you can go watch from a couple of different places, perhaps going to Becketts for one session and somewhere slower for the other. I have to say that the new stand at Becketts was one of the finest places at which to watch F1 cars at work, especially as you could see them in the new complex as well.
The only thing I would say is that even on the friday it will be *very* busy - If you want a choice seat in a good grandstand you need to be there at least 45min before the F1 session is due to start. Also if it's anything like this year you will need sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water!
Also you definitely have free run of the grandstands (except Club Silverstone) so you can go watch from a couple of different places, perhaps going to Becketts for one session and somewhere slower for the other. I have to say that the new stand at Becketts was one of the finest places at which to watch F1 cars at work, especially as you could see them in the new complex as well.
The only thing I would say is that even on the friday it will be *very* busy - If you want a choice seat in a good grandstand you need to be there at least 45min before the F1 session is due to start. Also if it's anything like this year you will need sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water!
If you're only going for one day then I would say Saturday (as you get the excitment of Qualifying), followed by Friday, then Sunday.
Friday morning can be quiet which gives you time to make you way around all the stalls/side shows without the major crowds of Friday afternoon/Saturday/Sunday.
Oh, and anyone wanting a three day ticket then but it sooner rather than later.
The new Pits Grandstand is already sold out!!
Friday morning can be quiet which gives you time to make you way around all the stalls/side shows without the major crowds of Friday afternoon/Saturday/Sunday.
Oh, and anyone wanting a three day ticket then but it sooner rather than later.
The new Pits Grandstand is already sold out!!
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