Silverstone off the BTCC menu
Discussion
2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship calendar (provisional):
1 April Brands Hatch *
22 April Rockingham
6 May Thruxton
3 June Croft
24 June Oulton Park *
15 July Donington Park *
29 July Snetterton
19 August Brands Hatch *
2 September Knockhill
14 October Thruxton
* - Layouts to be used for Brands Hatch, Rockingham, Oulton Park and Donington Park to be announced at a later date
Rockingham comes back in for the first time since 2003, with two rounds at Thruxton and Brands.
1 April Brands Hatch *
22 April Rockingham
6 May Thruxton
3 June Croft
24 June Oulton Park *
15 July Donington Park *
29 July Snetterton
19 August Brands Hatch *
2 September Knockhill
14 October Thruxton
* - Layouts to be used for Brands Hatch, Rockingham, Oulton Park and Donington Park to be announced at a later date
Rockingham comes back in for the first time since 2003, with two rounds at Thruxton and Brands.
It is some indictment of Silverstone to be dropped from a major British motor-racing series - unless they are doing re-development work of course. The National circuit never looks that interesting either IMO.
(but I'm going to give it a go on a trackday early January, purely for research purposes of course!)
Rockingham will be very interesting I think and Donington Park (National surely?) in July will be sweet. Biggest criticism are the two rounds at Thruxton - it is easily the poorest track on the menu. I know Snetterton has its criticisms, but affords better views around the entire circuit for spectators. Any chance of using the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit instead of the Indy?
(but I'm going to give it a go on a trackday early January, purely for research purposes of course!)
Rockingham will be very interesting I think and Donington Park (National surely?) in July will be sweet. Biggest criticism are the two rounds at Thruxton - it is easily the poorest track on the menu. I know Snetterton has its criticisms, but affords better views around the entire circuit for spectators. Any chance of using the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit instead of the Indy?
WFYL said:
It is some indictment of Silverstone to be dropped from a major British motor-racing series - unless they are doing re-development work of course. The National circuit never looks that interesting either IMO.
(but I'm going to give it a go on a trackday early January, purely for research purposes of course!)
Rockingham will be very interesting I think and Donington Park (National surely?) in July will be sweet. Biggest criticism are the two rounds at Thruxton - it is easily the poorest track on the menu. I know Snetterton has its criticisms, but affords better views around the entire circuit for spectators. Any chance of using the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit instead of the Indy?
(but I'm going to give it a go on a trackday early January, purely for research purposes of course!)
Rockingham will be very interesting I think and Donington Park (National surely?) in July will be sweet. Biggest criticism are the two rounds at Thruxton - it is easily the poorest track on the menu. I know Snetterton has its criticisms, but affords better views around the entire circuit for spectators. Any chance of using the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit instead of the Indy?
I think the problem with Silverstone was that the circuit had double booked and the BTCC was unable to be flexible with dates. As for Brands Hatch, I believe the plan is to do a round on both circuits this season.
Edited by Marc W on Thursday 7th December 10:32
THE BTCC at Rockingham should be erm interesting.... I hope they take a lot of spares... Its a cracking circuit, but I take the point on photos' in the grandstand your a long way from the infield section so you'll need a big lens. the up side is you should be able to see all the circuit
Silverstone national is a pointless circuit
G
Silverstone national is a pointless circuit
G
The national circuit is crap to drive on. most of the corners are contrived out of bits of the other circuits so not proper corners, lufield is just a pita no fun at all and woodcote is just fecking lethal.. its fast but often slippy and no run off. the only good corner is copse.
so basically its, contrived, short, boring and dangerouse and yes i've done a good few hundred laps on the national..
And then there is the silvertone experience, locked gates, more gates, fences, locked empty grandstands, dirty un kempt facilities... have you ever tried to go to the bogs in the paddock
The national is crap for specators as you cant get close enough to the action and cant see anything thanks to all the locked gates and fences
other than that and all the locked gates ( did i mention them) its fine
so basically its, contrived, short, boring and dangerouse and yes i've done a good few hundred laps on the national..
And then there is the silvertone experience, locked gates, more gates, fences, locked empty grandstands, dirty un kempt facilities... have you ever tried to go to the bogs in the paddock
The national is crap for specators as you cant get close enough to the action and cant see anything thanks to all the locked gates and fences
other than that and all the locked gates ( did i mention them) its fine
Marc W said:
I think the problem with Silverstone was that the circuit had double booked and the BTCC was unable to be flexible with dates. As for Brands Hatch, I believe the plan is to do a round on both circuits this season.
That would explain the absence of Silverstone then - would be worrying if the organisers didn't want to include the country's 'premier circuit'.
Brands Hatch Indy & GP - excellent
combemarshal said:
And there's nowt wrong with the National circuit, at least you get to see the cars more often!
True. You do get to see the cars more often, but it's not a favourite of mine (though I'm not calling it rubbish or pointless) because it doesn't appear to be all that challenging for the drivers, c/f Donington Park, Oulton Park, et al.
Edited by WFYL on Thursday 7th December 17:10
I don't think many will argue with your views on the facilities Graham. They are appalling for such a venue, most unsatisfactory. Bernie Eccelstone's continued critcism of the circuit, organisation & of those in charge is more than justified IMO. If within the remit of his position, as head of the BRDC, I hope Damon Hill can turn things around & make big improvements.
Any chance of an F1 round returning to Donington Park? It is a shame Jonathan Palmer's MSV group didn't get to buy the circuit as it would now surely be a strong contender to host an F1 round.
Will
Any chance of an F1 round returning to Donington Park? It is a shame Jonathan Palmer's MSV group didn't get to buy the circuit as it would now surely be a strong contender to host an F1 round.
Will
Edited by WFYL on Thursday 7th December 18:18
Actually facilities wise i think silvertone is actually quite good, its just that everytime we go they are either locked closed or if they are open they are dirty.
for example at the britcar 24 this year the permanent portaloo thingies were terrrible and not cleaned at all over the weekend. contrast that with anglesey where they clean and restock them every day....
Circuit wise as a driver my options change if its the international or the GP circuit. i even like southern thats quite good..
I'll not mourn if we dont run on the national this year either
for example at the britcar 24 this year the permanent portaloo thingies were terrrible and not cleaned at all over the weekend. contrast that with anglesey where they clean and restock them every day....
Circuit wise as a driver my options change if its the international or the GP circuit. i even like southern thats quite good..
I'll not mourn if we dont run on the national this year either
Apologies, perhaps we have our wires crossed here. The facilities installed at Silverstone are perfectly adequate, as much as I have experienced them at least, but as you said, they are too often in a poor state during a meeting. It is a confusing place to navigate at times, with areas roped off, staff not all that helpful, mounds of litter at beginning of a day, horrendous toilets. For a trackday the venue is great but for F1, BTCC, WTCC, GT the place becomes chaos. I think this is the crux of Eccelstone's criticisms too - needs better organisation to utilise what it has got.
National circuit aside, the other track variations at Silverstone are very good indeed.
National circuit aside, the other track variations at Silverstone are very good indeed. Edited by WFYL on Thursday 7th December 18:19
I couldn't agree more. Silverstone has lost BTCC, it has lost Great and British and the reason is their arrogance.
MSV and BARC are investing in their venues to attract more crowds, Silverstone seems to reject crowds and want to run behind closed doors!
The F3 GT meeting had less crowds than a clubbie event and the Great and British promoters were told NOT to promote their Silverstone event as the circuit was running something else at the same time.
Silverstone need to realise that motorsport, whether at FIA GT level or club level needs a crowd. I would rather take my sponsors to Mallory than Silverstone. OK, no grandstands, no flash pits, but it has people, an atmosphere, is welcoming, is pleasant...............none of which can be applied to Silverstone.
I'm deeply involved in both the BTCC package and Great and British package and Silverstone losing both rounds is great news. It was embarrassing to take sponsors and media there.
MSV and BARC are investing in their venues to attract more crowds, Silverstone seems to reject crowds and want to run behind closed doors!
The F3 GT meeting had less crowds than a clubbie event and the Great and British promoters were told NOT to promote their Silverstone event as the circuit was running something else at the same time.
Silverstone need to realise that motorsport, whether at FIA GT level or club level needs a crowd. I would rather take my sponsors to Mallory than Silverstone. OK, no grandstands, no flash pits, but it has people, an atmosphere, is welcoming, is pleasant...............none of which can be applied to Silverstone.
I'm deeply involved in both the BTCC package and Great and British package and Silverstone losing both rounds is great news. It was embarrassing to take sponsors and media there.
redlake27 said:
I couldn't agree more. Silverstone has lost BTCC, it has lost Great and British and the reason is their arrogance.
MSV and BARC are investing in their venues to attract more crowds, Silverstone seems to reject crowds and want to run behind closed doors!
The F3 GT meeting had less crowds than a clubbie event and the Great and British promoters were told NOT to promote their Silverstone event as the circuit was running something else at the same time.
Silverstone need to realise that motorsport, whether at FIA GT level or club level needs a crowd. I would rather take my sponsors to Mallory than Silverstone. OK, no grandstands, no flash pits, but it has people, an atmosphere, is welcoming, is pleasant...............none of which can be applied to Silverstone.
I'm deeply involved in both the BTCC package and Great and British package and Silverstone losing both rounds is great news. It was embarrassing to take sponsors and media there.
MSV and BARC are investing in their venues to attract more crowds, Silverstone seems to reject crowds and want to run behind closed doors!
The F3 GT meeting had less crowds than a clubbie event and the Great and British promoters were told NOT to promote their Silverstone event as the circuit was running something else at the same time.
Silverstone need to realise that motorsport, whether at FIA GT level or club level needs a crowd. I would rather take my sponsors to Mallory than Silverstone. OK, no grandstands, no flash pits, but it has people, an atmosphere, is welcoming, is pleasant...............none of which can be applied to Silverstone.
I'm deeply involved in both the BTCC package and Great and British package and Silverstone losing both rounds is great news. It was embarrassing to take sponsors and media there.
SO true and so sad.. imho Silverstone could easily be the best circuit in the uk. It does have the best facilities if only you could ever use them....
The place makes me feel like im on someones property but they dont really want you there, and want you gone as soon as you've finished and after you've paid. Its 100% attitude that makes silverstone sh1te...
your right it is embarassing takine friends and sponsors there..
Hopefully with Britcar controlling the whole venue for the 24hr this year, they should be able to show silystone how to run their own venue. But even then I'll bet silverstone lock some things... or only unlock one gate at the far end of things so you have to walk miles, when the could easily open a gate a both ends of things
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