F1 Testing - Silverstone 13th to 15th Sept
Discussion
Is it worth going to have a look in on these days. I must confess that I've never seen/heard an F1 car up close. Furthermore with it being free admission I think now is as good a time as any to go and get my first look in.
Has anybody been to one of these and could perhaps recommend a day to go?
Cheers
Steve
Has anybody been to one of these and could perhaps recommend a day to go?
Cheers
Steve
June one is the best - that's the official test day where most teams attend. IIRC I did attend a September test some years ago and several teams did test then.
It's always worth going though just to experience the sight, sound and sheer speed of an F1 car. The approach to the pits is very impressive - both in terms of speed and braking.
It's always worth going though just to experience the sight, sound and sheer speed of an F1 car. The approach to the pits is very impressive - both in terms of speed and braking.
It's well worth going. Standing at Copse (first corner) watching an F1 car is one of the greatest motorsport experiences you can have in this country. The speed, noise and sheer grip of the thing are immense. Plus a few teams may be running V8 hybrid cars for next year, which will be interesting
the dj 27 said:
It's well worth going. Standing at Copse (first corner) watching an F1 car is one of the greatest motorsport experiences you can have in this country. The speed, noise and sheer grip of the thing are immense. Plus a few teams may be running V8 hybrid cars for next year, which will be interesting
Sure, but do bear in mind that sometimes viewing is restricted to the area between Bridge and the Woodcote side of the pedestrian tunnel that goes under the circuit just before Copse - which denies one the view of the cars exiting Copse
anniesdad said:
Is it worth going to have a look in on these days. I must confess that I've never seen/heard an F1 car up close. Furthermore with it being free admission I think now is as good a time as any to go and get my first look in.
Has anybody been to one of these and could perhaps recommend a day to go?
Cheers
Steve
Hi Steve,
I've been going for yonks, but now word's got around, it can get a bit crowded...but that should not be a problem this time of the year.
As you say, it's free. You'll be standing at the Luffield complex, and if you have some leave to burn-up before the end of the year, I can't think of a better way to do it! I'm doing just that - I'll be going either Weds or Thurs.
Take a folding chair (no seats at Luffield), warm clothing, some binoculars, a brolly and a flask (although nowadays they usually have a burger/tea van available)...settle down and give your ears a treat
There's no promise of major teams or No1 drivers (best session for that is the one just before the British GP...but that does get very crowded now).
As to which day is best...check the weather forecast and go for the best day.
Cheers,
Paul
i've always found the test drivers do the first day or two and the race drivers do the wednesday or thursday.
echo what everyone has said, its a rare treat and nice to hear the cars through bridge. normally the uncovered stand opposite teh pits is open though this variers and there is never any consistency re grandstands. i would have thought there would still be seats in the covered stand on the exit of woodcote as there are still some big events at silverstone left this year.
echo what everyone has said, its a rare treat and nice to hear the cars through bridge. normally the uncovered stand opposite teh pits is open though this variers and there is never any consistency re grandstands. i would have thought there would still be seats in the covered stand on the exit of woodcote as there are still some big events at silverstone left this year.
anniesdad said:
Sounds good Guys! I might well pop down there on the Weds/Thurs then.
Thanks for the advice about what I should take with me, sadly it's looking more and more like warm clothing will be required on the day.
Another question, what time does testing normally start and finish?
Usually starts between 9:30 and 10:00, stops for lunch for an hour, and finishes between 4 & 5.
Give the Silverstone F1 message line a call on 08704 588249
www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk/racecalendar/default.asp
Hope you enjoy the day!
It looks like red bull will be there this week, a couple of there trucks were parked at Silverstone over the weekend. Also, about 10 Michelin trucks arrived the other night. I've just seen 2 renault trucks drive past home in Oxford en-route (slowly) from Spa I suppose. If they are going to be out tomorrow it may mean a very quick turn around tonight.
Pete
Pete
Well...did anyone go?
Just got back myself - several teams there, 1 x Jordan (Yamamoto), 2 x Toyotas (Schumi & Panis), 2 x Williams (Pizzonia & Rosberg), 2 x McLarens (Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa), 2 x Red Bull (Liuzzi & Klein) and 2 x Renault (Alonso and Fissi).
Saw Pedro spin off in the McLaren at the start of Luffield in the morning with what appeared to be a left rear tyre failure - several strips of tyre in the gravel and on the track.
Strange if it was a tyre failure, after all, they only do half a dozen laps before pitting.
They were also testing the V8 McLaren - it sound very strange against the V10s.
Just got back myself - several teams there, 1 x Jordan (Yamamoto), 2 x Toyotas (Schumi & Panis), 2 x Williams (Pizzonia & Rosberg), 2 x McLarens (Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa), 2 x Red Bull (Liuzzi & Klein) and 2 x Renault (Alonso and Fissi).
Saw Pedro spin off in the McLaren at the start of Luffield in the morning with what appeared to be a left rear tyre failure - several strips of tyre in the gravel and on the track.
Strange if it was a tyre failure, after all, they only do half a dozen laps before pitting.
They were also testing the V8 McLaren - it sound very strange against the V10s.
chim666 said:
Well...did anyone go?
Just got back myself - several teams there, 1 x Jordan (Yamamoto), 2 x Toyotas (Schumi & Panis), 2 x Williams (Pizzonia & Rosberg), 2 x McLarens (Wurz and Pedro de la Rosa), 2 x Red Bull (Liuzzi & Klein) and 2 x Renault (Alonso and Fissi).
Saw Pedro spin off in the McLaren at the start of Luffield in the morning with what appeared to be a left rear tyre failure - several strips of tyre in the gravel and on the track.
Strange if it was a tyre failure, after all, they only do half a dozen laps before pitting.
They were also testing the V8 McLaren - it sound very strange against the V10s.
I went. It was pretty good. Alonso certainly wasn't hanging about. He recorded 1'17.018 secs as the fastest lap of the day. He also did 111 laps!
The McClaren V8 did 40 laps and had a fastest time of 1'22.974 secs, so quite a bit slower than the current car (the current V10 did 1'17.673). It will be interesting to see how that improves with development.
We bought a pass for the pits and paddock, and had a chat with the chap from Bridgestone, and a couple of the engineers who were hanging about, though we could't really get close to the cars. We ended up walking completely round the circuit, and had some very good viewpoints.
The sheer speed of these cars is hard to comprehend. Watching them on TV doesn't even get close to it. One thing I did notice was how different all the cars seemed, wheras on TV they all look and sound very similar. The differences in the noise the traction control made was odd - the Jordans sounded like some kind of strage analogue synth.
Tank Slapper said:
I went. It was pretty good. Alonso certainly wasn't hanging about. He recorded 1'17.018 secs as the fastest lap of the day. He also did 111 laps!
The McClaren V8 did 40 laps and had a fastest time of 1'22.974 secs, so quite a bit slower than the current car (the current V10 did 1'17.673). It will be interesting to see how that improves with development.
We bought a pass for the pits and paddock, and had a chat with the chap from Bridgestone, and a couple of the engineers who were hanging about, though we could't really get close to the cars. We ended up walking completely round the circuit, and had some very good viewpoints.
The sheer speed of these cars is hard to comprehend. Watching them on TV doesn't even get close to it. One thing I did notice was how different all the cars seemed, wheras on TV they all look and sound very similar. The differences in the noise the traction control made was odd - the Jordans sounded like some kind of strage analogue synth.
How much and where did you buy the pit passes from?
Anyone know whos going to be there tomorrow?
According to this, http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/050914/13/dmml.html McLaren won't be there Thursday.
IIRC, Silverstone's website has details on pit passes - though I wouldn't expect you'll get too close to the cars, as everything's pretty well kept behind barriers and in the garages.
IIRC, Silverstone's website has details on pit passes - though I wouldn't expect you'll get too close to the cars, as everything's pretty well kept behind barriers and in the garages.
mindgam3 said:
How much and where did you buy the pit passes from?
Anyone know whos going to be there tomorrow?
Pit passes were from the Silverstone racing club, which is on Woodcote corner, and were £10 each.
They said that there would be 3 teams there including Red Bull, but not sure who else.
4 Teams were there in the end;
Red Bull
Toyota
Jordan
Williams
There was absolutely no rain, in fact it was great because as the track dried out the cars were visibly faster towards the latter part of the session.
I have to say that they are angry bastards these F1 cars, certainly louder and faster than anything else i've ever seen at a racetrack.
Couple of engine problems (I think) meant that R. Schumacher got stranded out on the circuit (not sure where as spectating was at Luffield and Woodcote only). One of the Jordan's was running rough at one point also. Mind you there seems to be so much going on in the engine department of the Jordan that it's hard to tell whether its running 100% at all!
Certainly Jordan and Williams were out on track moreso than Red Bull and Toyota.
And thanks to the Caterham driver who was demonstrating the car to a few corporate customers, who drifted the 7 beautifully on the damp track.
Well worth going.
Red Bull
Toyota
Jordan
Williams
There was absolutely no rain, in fact it was great because as the track dried out the cars were visibly faster towards the latter part of the session.
I have to say that they are angry bastards these F1 cars, certainly louder and faster than anything else i've ever seen at a racetrack.
Couple of engine problems (I think) meant that R. Schumacher got stranded out on the circuit (not sure where as spectating was at Luffield and Woodcote only). One of the Jordan's was running rough at one point also. Mind you there seems to be so much going on in the engine department of the Jordan that it's hard to tell whether its running 100% at all!
Certainly Jordan and Williams were out on track moreso than Red Bull and Toyota.
And thanks to the Caterham driver who was demonstrating the car to a few corporate customers, who drifted the 7 beautifully on the damp track.
Well worth going.
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