Silverstone unveils new Arena layout - Autosport

[Wanta996Gotta]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/83178

[chevronb37]

Silverstone is a very different circuit now to 12 months ago. They've lost Bridge, lost the nice spectator banking above Club, removed the atmosphere from the start line with the new gravel trap, restricted viewing through Becketts and put huge catch fencing to block photos. Such is progress, I suppose but I cannot see the benefit in running the new Arena layout myself.

[Get Karter]

Anyone care to guess how much longer a lap (in time) this'll be for F1 cars?

I reckon about 3 secs.

[chevronb37]

I'd say more like 5 - 7 secs.

[groomi]

Damon Hill says about 4 seconds for the GP.

[purple haze]

The revised layout was, I understand, carried out at the behest of Moto GP when Silverstone had already agreed to host the bikes and were anticipating they had lost the car GP to Donington, and then they had to quickly get Bernie on board when Donington defaulted. At least we will get to compare GP bikes and cars on the same circuit. Be interesting to see if they take the same lines. At least the spectator facilites are getting a much needed upgrade. From what I've been able to see of the new layout the new Arena complex should be easily seen from the area around Becketts. A worthwhile improvement I would say - and will hopefully guarantee that Silverstone continues as host to the British GP

[The Wookie]

I for one am not going to complain about the loss of atmosphere at Woodcote, previously a spin or crash there would often result in a very large, expensive and dangerous game of pinball.

[Rude-boy]

The Wookie said:

I for one am not going to complain about the loss of atmosphere at Woodcote, previously a spin or crash there would often result in a very large, expensive and dangerous game of pinball.

Whilst I will miss the atmosphere of the old (I am old enough to remember it pre Luffield complex and avec catch fencing!) I am also old enough to have lost a few friends and acquaintances there.

[chevronb37]

The Wookie said:

I for one am not going to complain about the loss of atmosphere at Woodcote, previously a spin or crash there would often result in a very large, expensive and dangerous game of pinball.

I concur to an extent. The driver of the Mosler who landed on his roof and was unable to be extricated in the Dutch Supercar race last month might disagree though...

[Wanta996Gotta]

Webbers Q&A on Silverstone

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/83190

[Altrezia]

Have to say, it looks way better to drive now.

[MiniMan64]

Quite like the look of that, looks like a very fast track though so the possibilty of more slip streaming and action in the braking areas?

[stephen300o]

I like the new layout and am looking forward to seeing it in use on Saturday.

[Rude-boy]

chevronb37 said:

The Wookie said:

I for one am not going to complain about the loss of atmosphere at Woodcote, previously a spin or crash there would often result in a very large, expensive and dangerous game of pinball.

I concur to an extent. The driver of the Mosler who landed on his roof and was unable to be extricated in the Dutch Supercar race last month might disagree though...

Bit of a freak incident there though. In 3 months time, once the ground works have started to bed down properly, that would be even less likely to happen. On the other hand another Steve Bell, Andy Neate, etc was always going to happen unless it was changed.

[y2blade]

Altrezia said:

Have to say, it looks way better to drive now.

I have already been around it (on Easter Monday)

the old GP layout was my Favourite UK trackday circuit (on the Bike)
the New Arena Layout is even better, I am doing it again on Monday

I can't wait


BTW this is the best company for Bike Trackdays imho, I won't book with anyone else
http://www.focusedevents.com/events.asp?event_type...

[Idiot Gimp Boy]

This picture shows the new layout quite well.

[y2blade]

this is not me but it was the same day I was there, the circuit is even better than it was before

P1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6sXu3Tql6Y
P2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnUNmkJGzRg&fea...

[MiniMan64]

Looks even more impressive in that picture/diagram, that seems to imply that the old circuit complete with bridge is still in place...

[sirtyro]

So looking at that picture they can technically still use bridge?!

[y2blade]

sirtyro said:

So looking at that picture they can technically still use bridge?!

yes they can, some TDOs are still running the "bridge gp" layout for this year alongside the "arena gp" layout



this video is a lot better than those I posted above, again this is NOT me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onfljaN5H38&fea...