Silverstone Saturday Roving - Rove or stay put?

[Dave2P]

First time to a Silverstone GP (Saturday) and wondering how practical 'Roving' is likely to be on the day?

We're thinking/hoping to spend some time in Becketts grandstand and then Luffield in time for F2 Spring and F1 Quali later.

Given the forecast showers will make the covered stands more popular, is that going to work or will we better off just picking one and sticking with it for the day?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Liamjrhodes]

I've been a couple of times and generally on none race days the stand only generally fill to capacity for F1 qualifying at most other times there are plenty of seats.

So i would recommend moving about for the lower formulas but make sure you have selected your ideal stand and go there before qualifying starts

[Drew106]

I last went in 2014, so quite a while back!

We certainly made use of the roaming aspect, basically doing a lap of the track trying different grandstands as we went. Maggots/Becketts was one of the highlights - best to watch the F1 cars through here to really get a sense of the corning speed.

Expect the pit straight to be fairly rammed, but it's a great place to view the pits.

[Sandpit Steve]

I watched qualifying from the pit grandstand last time I was there. It’ll be busy, so get there to watch the F2 sprint race beforehand and bring a book for the intervening hour!

[paulguitar]

I will be roving on Friday and Saturday, it is a great way to do it. My only advice really is don't roll up for quali 10 minutes beforehand, give it half an hour at least.

Edited by paulguitar on Wednesday 2nd July 16:59

[toastyhamster]

You might have a different ticket type that allows roving in some grandstands on Saturday, we're in Club for the weekend and only Friday is roving.

[paulguitar]

toastyhamster said:

You might have a different ticket type that allows roving in some grandstands on Saturday, we're in Club for the weekend and only Friday is roving.

Okay, you'll be in Club B or Club C.


My Friday ticket allows me to go anywhere (so I will be in Club C) and on Saturday I am slightly more restricted, so I might end up at Woodcote for quali, or possibly Club A.

[Dave2P]

Thanks for all the input everyone, very helpful.

Sandpit Steve said:

watch the F2 sprint race beforehand and bring a book for the intervening hour!

I think this is the way!

toastyhamster said:

You might have a different ticket type that allows roving in some grandstands on Saturday

IIUIC, Saturday Roving grandstands include; Becketts, Copse (A,B,C), Luffield, Stirling B, Village B, Woodcote (A,B,C) and National Pit Straight (i.e. not the 'Premium' stands).

Think we'll do as many as we can in the a.m. and pick one for the F2 + late lunch/sit down + F1 Quali...

[paulguitar]

Saturday roving is:



Abbey A
Becketts
Chapel
Club A
Copse A
Copse B
Copse C
Copse D
Farm Curve
Hamilton Straight B
Luffield
Luffield Corner
National Pit Straight
Stirling A
Stirling B
The View
Vale
Village A
Village B
Woodcote A
Woodcote B

[F355GTS]

Just a heads up for those travelling to Silverstone this weekend, the A34 Northbound is shut between the M4 junction and nr Didcot from 9pm Friday to 6am Monday

diversion is incredibly long via M4 Maidenhead, A404, M40

[MattyD803]

paulguitar said:

I will be roving on Friday and Saturday, it is a great way to do it. My only advice really is don't roll up for quali 10 minutes before hand, give it half an hour at least.

AT LEAST 30mins for quali on the Saturday. We were there last year and by 30mins lead time it was already getting quite busy at quite a few of the grandstands.

Allowing say 45-60mins also means you can scope out and decide whether the weather/prevailing wind will cause you any issues. i.e. Front / rear / side rows may get absolutely drenched should the heavens open, despite the roof.

[stevemcs]

We like Vale, Village A and Copse

[SpudLink]

I enjoy watching support races from Luffield.

But watching F1 cars defy physics as they turn into Copse at qualifying pace is worth watching.

[PD9]

Yes, as above, at least an hour before qualifying, you want to be entering your chosen stand and finding a seat. There is nothing worse than queuing then getting turned away, to try and find somewhere else. If there are 2-3 of you then be even earlier.

[cliffords]

I wonder if it will be busy as last year ?
Tickets were still for sale even yesterday.

[paulguitar]

I'm about to head over to Silverstone

I bet it will be rammed. Fridays used to be really chilled, with only the proper full-on fans there. It's changed a lot.

[Sandpit Steve]

SpudLink said:

I enjoy watching support races from Luffield.

But watching F1 cars defy physics as they turn into Copse at qualifying pace is worth watching.

One of the few TV shots that really shows the performance of the F1 cars, is that head-on down the old pit straight when they suddenly turn into Copse across the screen at the end. In qualifying they won’t lift.

What makes F1 cars so spectacular isn’t actually the speed or the acceleration, it’s the cornering and especially the braking.

[Drew106]

paulguitar said:

I'm about to head over to Silverstone

I bet it will be rammed. Fridays used to be really chilled, with only the proper full-on fans there. It's changed a lot.

With the price of tickets - going just on the Friday is a good chance to experience F1 in person, without breaking the bank

[bergclimber34]

I would guess tickets were still available as due to recent sellouts they have the ability to extend capacity in stands and GA, it is now a giant moneyspinner after all, you have to capitalise.

[cliffords]

bergclimber34 said:

I would guess tickets were still available as due to recent sellouts they have the ability to extend capacity in stands and GA, it is now a giant moneyspinner after all, you have to capitalise.

I did read they couldn't have more people. A restriction put on by the licence from the local council. So they decided to charge more and the parking costs!!