Comments on: Exclusive: First flying lap of new Silverstone circuit

By: Horacio

Horacio — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:53:50 +0000

James and the rest of the crew: Silverstone is a national treasure and an almost sacred place for racing fans (for me, at least). Year after year we have had great races here. I just love that track and few corners are still the best in use today.
The thing is: was is REALLY necessary the new design? I mean, I really like it, the new stright with two very fast corners is good. But my question is: is it really better than the previous version?
Oh, James, thanks for the great video!!!!

By: andybeach

andybeach — Mon, 03 May 2010 09:38:41 +0000

Once upon a time they would have said a night race was a bonkers idea ….!!

By: Lopek

Lopek — Sun, 02 May 2010 21:06:58 +0000

Just got back from the GT1 weekend at Silverstone.

My negative views of the new Arena section based on paper and videos proved completely wrong, it produced some great racing. Loads of overtaking going into Village and through Aintree in all the series.

The view from the grandstand at Village is great. You can see the key Arena corners close up, and (at a distance) the Becketts/Maggots/Chapel complex, some of the Hanger Straight and right down to Stowe and Vale. Brilliant.

They really need to get some more grandstands in there, there is only one small one at the moment – presume it is planned otherwise calling the new section an “Arena” seems kinda strange!

The track commentators did a great job as always at Silverstone, but clearly have not got the new section down yet – was called a mix of the “Stadium”, the “Loop”, the “Complex” and the “Arena” throughout the weekend. Kinda amusing.

Overall a big thumbs up from me – good improvement to the circuit. Hopefully it will provide racing in F1 will matches today.

By: Andy C

Andy C — Sun, 02 May 2010 13:56:17 +0000

James

great to get Martin in on the action on your website. I think hes a great guy.

Were you on board for this lap, looks like he was kicking the back out quite a lot which must be interesting sitting much farther back with limited visibility.

Any pics of the Santander F1 car you went round in? Is it one of the old two seaters from a couple of years back (were they minardis? I never remember).

By: Érico

Érico — Sun, 02 May 2010 09:56:17 +0000

I like it. Moto GP will be a blast. This really is a cicuit in which they can stretch their legs and show us all they got.

It won’t be easy to see some F1 overtaking, but then, it never is on any dry track. Nevertheless, it will be a very fast track.

By: Steve Hogarth

Steve Hogarth — Sun, 02 May 2010 08:00:59 +0000

The track looks great. I just can’t believe how cool Martin Brundel was!!!! I think F1 drivers have to born with ice in their veins. He was pshing the car hard in the wet and he was corecting the car all over the place and the tone in his voice did not even skip. he could have been reading a bed time story to one of his children. Mind boggling.
Well done Martin.

By: FFfan

FFfan — Sun, 02 May 2010 03:21:09 +0000

Actually the new Arena GP Layout has already been used. My son was out testing his Formula Ford car on it on Wednesday the week before with quite a few others including Damon Hill’s son Josh. British F3′s were there as well. Unlike this week it was a bright sunny dry day and the circuit was very fast

By: Formula Zero

Formula Zero — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:14:56 +0000

Well I have to agree with Jake on this. I think it’s possible, also possible to make it more fun. Of course it will be costly, but cost doesn’t really stop improving some track management.

By: Formula Zero

Formula Zero — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:11:42 +0000

Couldn’t agree more. Of course it feels good when your team wins. But proper race isn’t wet race.

By: GTRacer

GTRacer — Sun, 02 May 2010 01:28:54 +0000

i was at the fia gt1/gt3 races at the new silverstone today and i dont like the new section.

from the stands it looks very dull and the masses of tarmac runoff make it look even worse.

also, it’s a bit difficult to get decent pics any more as you always have a huge run off or massive fence in front of you

also the new section didnt exactly add anything to the racing today, only pass i saw there was because the car been passed was about to retire due to engine failure.