The New Silverstone (Bridge) GP Circuit as of yesterday ..
Discussion
Anyone from here at Silverstone yesterday on thw Focused Events Trackday?
It was the very first day on the new Silverstone GP (Bridge) Circuit, which is the same layout at the old Silv GP except for some slight modifications (not the NEW Arena/GP Layout).
Firstly, I have to say that I thought it would be a bit of a queuefest as it was a mega cheap day but it wasn't too bad. It did allow some folks who would probably not normally be able to afford the usual price for this sort of event to take part so hats off to Focused Events for that.
This did reflect itself in a few red flags (4-5?) which were mostly down to breakdowns as certainly a few cars there were probably not up to a track day. I had to laough a little as we passed the Sierra Cossie with "Cool Running" plastered on the rear and steam billowing from the engine bay
Ettiqueete was actually quite good and although there was some queueing it was nowhere near as much as I had expected.
I was with 2 drivers from the Elise Trophy in Class A cars, which would usually lap the circuit in around 2:15 so definitely amongst the quickest cars there.
The circuit was very muddy and slippy at first but was in pretty good condition by lunchtime. It rained in the afternoon which meant a lot of cars called it a day and it was pretty quite late on.
ANWAY, the changes .. They are SIGNIFICANT.
1) Ever gone straight on at Vale .. if you do now, or even get half a car off the circuit you'll be in a gravel trap, gravel is now right up to the track edge.
2) You take a big chunk of curb at the apex of Vale .. if you do say goodbye to your sump, very high raised section on this curb now, a bit like Russell at Snetterton. You can take a little bit but take too much and it will be expensive.
3) Club - Completely re-profiled and feels very different. Almost like 2 corners now. The exit curb on the left is closer and straight but has a HUGE tarmac run-off that I can see being used as part of the track by many.
4) If you lose it on the exit of Club you may well find yourself going into a very solid, very long concrete pitwall on the right which is the new pit complex. Think they will surely have to pad this in some way as it could be very nasty indeed.
Most of the area from Stowe through bridge has new curbs.
5) Always felt a little but hesitant as you run flat out through Woodcote because of the proximity of the barriers on the left? Well not now, they have moved them so far back that I suspect they are in a different county. Looks like Blackpool beach now.
Howwever, it's still a tricky corner as one White GT3 found out, looks like he lost it over the apex bump at Woodcote, black lines then went damn close to the pitwall before going back across the track. Car ended up in the dirt at least 2/3rds of the way to Copse :eek
Really did feel odd in places, especially the approach to Abbey with the pitwall tight on your right.
Maxx
link to some onboard footage of the new layout. on the whole a big improvement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYeWn0wYZzA&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYeWn0wYZzA&fea...
I was there in my 7 and Elise. Parts of the track after lunch were the most slippery surface I've ever encountered on a trackday. I had a big spin at copse in the Elise, no harm done happily but it helped focus the mind!
I for one will miss Bridge corner. The new arena layout might benefit spectators but it won't be as good from a drivers point of view.
I for one will miss Bridge corner. The new arena layout might benefit spectators but it won't be as good from a drivers point of view.
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