British Grand Prix - General Admission - Arriving at 9am

[manracer]

Ok so i know the drill with general admission dictates i should be waiting with camp chair in hand when the gates open around 4am, however I just know i wont be willing to leave home at 2am in order to do this, so im thinking I will be arriving at the track around 9am.

My question to the regulars is, where would you head towards in order to get an OK vantage point arriving at 9am on the Sunday?

Cheers

[F355GTS]

I doubt there will be anywhere 'OK' at 9am. Are you planning to get to the area for 9am or have you already allowed at least 2 Hours for local traffic to get near the place?

[manracer]

F355GTS said:

I doubt there will be anywhere 'OK' at 9am. Are you planning to get to the area for 9am or have you already allowed at least 2 Hours for local traffic to get near the place?

Was thinking of leaving Manchester at 6am, 2hr drive, 8am, allowing an hour for parking?

[Rude-boy]

manracer said:

F355GTS said:

I doubt there will be anywhere 'OK' at 9am. Are you planning to get to the area for 9am or have you already allowed at least 2 Hours for local traffic to get near the place?

Was thinking of leaving Manchester at 6am, 2hr drive, 8am, allowing an hour for parking?

Sad to say the answer is 'In your Dreams'.

I have a 'God Pass' to drive in usually (ie i use the same routes and lanes as the drivers and teams) and there is no way in hell I would expect to arrive 2 miles from Silverstone at 8am and still expect to be parked up by 9am.

If you really are allergic to early starts then your best option is to get a place an hour down the road and leave there at about 6:30 and you stand half a chance of getting one of the last of the good spots.

Seriously i have seen it like the start of the 100m, but with the same number of runners as the marathon, when the gates open on race day.

FWIW unless i am staying on site and working i usually try to get there for 7:30ish and have a good breakfast when i get there.

[manracer]

Urgh, this sounds like a lot of bother.

Say I do get there for the crack of dawn and manage to secure a decent vantage point. What if I'd like to go get something to eat, drink or nip to the toilet perhaps? I mean what if I fancy a stroll around?

[clarkeysntfc]

My wife and I have been twice on GA, and arrived within 15-20 mins of the gates opening each time (c.6am). By 7.30 all the GA places that we could see with a decent view were gone. We watched from Luffield both times.

Arriving at 9am you'd probably have to be happy with a spot standing in a crowd of people at Vale or looking through a catch fence at Copse or Becketts.

[eybic]

manracer said:

Urgh, this sounds like a lot of bother.

Say I do get there for the crack of dawn and manage to secure a decent vantage point. What if I'd like to go get something to eat, drink or nip to the toilet perhaps? I mean what if I fancy a stroll around?

You would lose your space unless anyone that you're with stays behind and saves it for you.

[Vaud]

Suggest that you find a hotel much closer or if your car allows, kip in the car overnight within striking distance of the track (say 20 miles)

[ukaskew]

eybic said:

You would lose your space unless anyone that you're with stays behind and saves it for you.

I think that's very unlikely. Assuming you have a camping chair and have already chatted to your 'neighbours' for the day nobody is going to just take your space.

I attend RIAT alone every year and always go off for a walk to see the static stuff for the few hours free in the morning, never an issue.

[Vaud]

manracer said:

Was thinking of leaving Manchester at 6am, 2hr drive, 8am, allowing an hour for parking?

If you use Google maps you can set your route based on date and time and it uses historic traffic data to indicate your journey time.

2hr20-3hr10 leaving at 6am.

[sandman77]

I have attended Grand Prix in Australia, Belgium, Italy and Spain and have never experienced the issues described here. It is because of these stories I have no intention of ever attending the British Grand Prix. Seriously if you arrive at 9am with GA tickets you could end up watching the race through a catch fence? If you want a good spot you need to be there for 6am and hang around in the same spot for 8 hours before the race starts? This doesn't sound like a fun day out at all.

[Sheetmaself]

I disagree with nothing that has already been said, but if this hasnt changed your mind and are still going to try and dont mind taking a risk the following may be worthwhile.

You can now by a pass which allows entry into the middle of the circuit and this is the first year. I have the ticket for Friday but may be worth a punt for GA on the Sunday?

[F355GTS]

Sheetmaself said:

I disagree with nothing that has already been said, but if this hasnt changed your mind and are still going to try and dont mind taking a risk the following may be worthwhile.

You can now by a pass which allows entry into the middle of the circuit and this is the first year. I have the ticket for Friday but may be worth a punt for GA on the Sunday?

Interesting are there GA viewing areas on the infield? since the new pits were built I thought it was all grandstand / hospitality except for the Abbey complex but they've put boards/ sheeting up to stop any viewing there

[Sheetmaself]

Honestly, im not sure. You do order this by calling the circuit though so someone there may know the answer.

I just get the feeling it hasnt been advertised too well, i recieved an Email about it once and have seen nothing further either by Email or on their site. To me this suggests many will of forgotten about the Email and it will not have that many takers.

I have done it on the Friday so if you cannot get an answer i could let you know on the Friday.

It also allows access to the pit area for all the support races.

[Simes205]

I last went in 2015. Was onsite at around 8am and pitched up at Beckets.
By 10am were 3 rows of chairs and did get more crowded, but nothing like sitting (perching) on the bank at pouhan with 20,000 others.
Ie you could get up and take a still easily and one back to your place.

[manracer]

Thanks all for the additional info.

A guy at work mentioned that the infield was Available this year, and as it's limited in number or spectators I am hoping it may allow me to come and go better as well as allowing the later arrival time. It's £42 each.

[rubystone]

F355GTS said:

Interesting are there GA viewing areas on the infield? since the new pits were built I thought it was all grandstand / hospitality except for the Abbey complex but they've put boards/ sheeting up to stop any viewing there

Inside of Copse, Stowe and Becketts seemed to be grandstand and hostility free, Mark back in 2016, but that’s probably about all

[datum77]

Only ever been once to Silverstone for the GP. In 2015. (With 2 free tickets bought for a friend who I went with). A wasted day spent looking at cars through the shoulders and over the heads of people 6 deep. Overpriced food/drink, rubbish everywhere, always queuing for toilets. And, it rained.

A thoroughly miserable day out. Not recommended. And I certainly would never pay for it..

Watching the WRC in Wales is a much better investment.

[Mr Tidy]

I've never wanted to go to the British GP - you get to see more on the TV for now (until it goes onto pay-to-view).

I was lucky enough to get a corporate pass for the 2010 Melbourne qualy session - but it was pretty boring to be fair! (Even though tickets were much cheaper down under)!

[Leo31291]

datum77 said:

Only ever been once to Silverstone for the GP. In 2015. (With 2 free tickets bought for a friend who I went with). A wasted day spent looking at cars through the shoulders and over the heads of people 6 deep. Overpriced food/drink, rubbish everywhere, always queuing for toilets. And, it rained.

A thoroughly miserable day out. Not recommended. And I certainly would never pay for it..

Watching the WRC in Wales is a much better investment.

I actually enjoyed that race. But the highlight of the day was that Typhoon jet. Flew right over our heads at farm curve grandstand and took a vertical path up with it's engines facing down at us. The change of direction was incredible to see in person and the noise, jesus christ..

Edited by Leo31291 on Tuesday 29th May 02:50