Silverstone Developments

[Bob Bull]

Contrary to information supplied last year the current International Circuit is no-more!!!
I have been at Silverstone today and there is a massive amount of work going on around the site with £15,000,000 worth of machinery on-site and 240 work men. A lot of the work is aimed at safety issues with more run-off areas at Woodcote and current finish straight, as well along the national Straight where the new Arena Circuit will join it. Many grandstands are being removed, re-sited and improved. Work on the new MotoGP loop is limited to groundwork at the moment, but is expected to be completed in March.
You can see a map and pictures on the usual web site, that gives a pretty good idea of progress and the sheer scale of the work being carried out.
Silverstone expect that the VSCC Pomeroy Trophy will be run as usual next month.

I will post more info as it becomes available.

I asked Ricard Phillips (MD) if they had thought of taking over Donington, and it was something that had been thought off but they had no plans at present. Interesting thought though.

Bob.

[Chris Acklam]

Thanks Bob - good to have it from a peccable source ...

[JERRY KNIGHT]

Thanks Bob - good to have it from a peccable source ...

Is that like a budgie ?

[Bob Bull]

peccable source ...

...and you, Mr.Acklam, have impeccable SAUCE!

On reviewing taped commentary from Richard Phillips during my charabang trip around the facility I note that he said the new International Circuit would not be ready until "next year"! IF that is correct you may be spending your afternoons around the Club circuit in 2010.

[Chris Acklam]

...and you, Mr.Acklam, have impeccable SAUCE!

A veritable hit ...

IF that is correct you may be spending your afternoons around the Club circuit in 2010.

Or the GP circuit (as in the MG meeting) - so it's an ill wind etc.

[Bob Bull]

I have added a few more pictures from yesterday's visit that show the amount of work going on around the circuit.

[Chris Acklam]

Interesting photos Bob - thanks. Link here.

[Andy Green]

Bob

Thanks for the information and great photos

Seems they are removing the curbing with which I flirted during my accident last year,good news

Hope Jerrys green marks on the wall survive!

Hopefully someone will takeover Donington soon

[Bob Bull]

Andy,
Apparently MotoGP riders like to scrape their knees on the kerbs when cornering, and the 'dragons tooth' design is not considered suitable for such a practice, therefore, Silverstone are installing dual kerbing. On the outside will be smooth sloped kerbs with the more usual dragon tooth type set behind them, to stop F1 drivers cutting the corners, but allowing motor cyclists to lean on the smooth section. A permanent factory is on-site producing kerbing, as most but not all of the existing bits are being replaced.
The new pits area will be built on the straight between Club and Abbey, but will not be in use this year for the Grand Prix, but maybe for the bikes.
Silverstone are confident that the new full length Arena Circuit will be the fastest on the F1 calendar, beating Monza, which means lap times of over 150mph, so better get hotting up the motors chaps, etc..
I am sure you will all be pleased to know that Herman the German was not involved in the circuit design, but a lot of imput came fromn current drivers and riders, and it is said a lot of overtaking opportunities have been buit in to the track. Spectator viewing is being improved (and before Gerry et al comment I am not talking about looking at people standing by the circuit) and where ever possible being brought closer to the track, while a certain amount of 'levelling' is being carried out to improve visibilty across the circuit, so that more of the action can be seen from any one spot. Apparently if you wish to attend the Grand Prix the lower end of the circuit will offer the best viewing.

Bob.

PS. I am pretty sure that any green stripes will have disappeared by now.

[Leigh Sebba]

" but a lot of imput came fromn current drivers and riders "

I don't recall being asked for my input

[Mary Lindsay]

I don't recall being asked for my input

...but are you a driver or a rider????

[Leigh Sebba]

I believe the great bicycle race is at Cadwell not at Silverstone – so in this case only a driver

[Bob Bull]

For Immediate Release 11 February 2010 New Silverstone circuit gets green light for 2010 British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuits Limited is pleased to confirm that, following approval from Formula One Management (FOM), the 2010 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (9-11 July) will be staged on Silverstone’s new Arena Grand Prix Circuit*. Computer generated image of how Silverstone’s new Arena Grand Prix circuit will look for the 2010 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix (image also features the new Pit and Paddock Complex, planned for 2011) Click on the following link to download images: http://www.sportssystems.com/hosting/di ... key=101350 The majority of Silverstone’s iconic straights and high-speed corners are retained in the Arena Grand Prix Circuit. The only significant change is from Abbey corner where, instead of heading into Farm Straight, Bridge and Priory on the traditional Grand Prix circuit - which remains and will be used for future events, including historic races - the drivers will now turn right at Abbey onto a dramatic new section of track. Turning right at Abbey corner, Button, Hamilton, Schumacher and co. will now race back up towards ‘Becketts’ and into the new ‘Arena Complex’, which has been designed with a view to creating three new overtaking opportunities. The circuit then links up with the ‘National Straight’ before re-joining the original Grand Prix circuit at ‘Brooklands’. Work being carried out on the new Arena Grand Prix Circuit at Silverstone, scheduled for completion in March Silverstone has invested more than £5 million on this new, super fast circuit, with work scheduled for completion in March, 2010. Away from the track, the Northamptonshire venue is making a number of improvements to its spectator viewing areas. In addition to constructing elevated viewing banks, existing grandstands and fence lines are being moved to bring fans closer to the on-track action. The new track design retains the essence of Silverstone - a fast and flowing, yet technically challenging circuit that the drivers love. Scientific data, based on mathematical simulations and interpolations provided by Populous, the world’s leading sports architecture firm who have consulted with drivers and riders to design the new circuit, has calculated that Silverstone will continue to be one of the quickest circuits on the F1 calendar. Despite the circuit length being increased by 760m, lap times for an F1 car will only be increased by four seconds. Key circuit facts: Additional track length - 760m Arena Grand Prix Circuit length - 5,900km / 3.666 miles (increased from 5,140km / 3.194 miles) Projected F1 Lap Time - 1:23.13 Projected F1 Average Speed - 252kph / 157mph Projected F1 Maximum Speed - 302kph / 188mph Turns - 18 (R 10 / L 8) MotoGP (18-20 June) and World Superbikes (30 July – 01 August) are also heading to Silverstone in 2010, with both events scheduled to take place on the new Arena Grand Prix circuit. While the first major international race meeting to run on the Arena Grand Prix Circuit will be the Silverstone Supercar, featuring the FIA GT Championships on 1-2 May. Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, commented: “The new sections of circuit were initially brought in to comply with MotoGP safety regulations, but the ‘Arena Complex’ was always designed with both two and four-wheeled racing in mind. We have been very careful, working closely with drivers and riders, to make sure we are improving and enhancing what Silverstone already has to offer – from a drivers, riders and spectators point of view. “Some will miss not seeing modern day F1 cars accelerating through Bridge, but we have to move with the times and continue looking at ways to improve the overall experience. The new layout will bring an extra dimension to Silverstone, a new challenge for the drivers, and will enable fans to get closer to the action. We have a very exciting year ahead of us, with F1, MotoGP and World Superbikes all coming to Silverstone, and I can’t wait to see how the drivers and riders tackle the new circuit.” Work on Silverstone’s new Pit and Paddock Complex, to be located between Club and Abbey, is scheduled to be carried out between the spring of 2010 and the summer of 2011. Included in the complex will be new garages, a race control building, media centre, hospitality and VIP spectator zones and a primary paddock. Tickets for the 2010 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX are now on sale. Tickets can be booked 24 hours a day, seven days a week at http://www.silverstone.co.uk, or by calling 0844 3728 300**. * Subject to FIA homologation
** The location of several grandstands will have changed for the 2010 FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX. Customers are advised to clarify grandstand positions, prior to purchasing their tickets. - Ends - For further media information please contact:

By clicking on the link you can get a fair idea of the new track lay out and also work out the new International circuit from Becketts to the National Straight.

[Bob Bull]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48246033@N ... 068/detail

This link will lead you to the latest pictures issued by Silverstone showing progress on the changes being made to the circuit lay out.

Bob

[Bob Bull]

Just in case you are still thinking about going to the Grand Prix, you have missed the boat, unless you have a wad of cash. All General Admission tickets for race day are gone, but you can still get an enclosure tickets for £175, these let you stand on the terracing at Copse, etc. Grandstand seats are still available but you may have to sell the Morgan! It is still possible to buy tickets for Friday and Saturday.

Not bad going when you consider how short a time there has been since confirmation that the race would be held.

Bob