The changing face of Silverstone
As part of the bid to host MotoGP, Silverstone has introduced a new loop on the track, called the ‘Arena’. It’s a large-scale operation, however you look at it. But a trip to the Northamptonshire circuit yesterday proved to be quite an eye-opener.
Firstly, the Silverstone you know is unrecognisable at the moment, and that’s because hosting MotoGP doesn’t just mean adding a new bit of track. Run-off areas need to be changed from asphalt to asphalt/gravel, and curbs need to be reprofiled to have negative camber so that riders can get their knee down.
And that’s just the start. Altering the run-off areas means work on the grandstands too, which need to be pushed back and rebuilt. And widening the track means taking the bridges down and rebuilding longer ones. All in all, this is a monumental undertaking.
I caught up with Silverstone’s managing director, Richard Phillips (below), while touring the track, and he was understandably proud of the progress made so far. “As you’re making changes like this your risk assessments change, so the knock-on effect is that you’re really revamping the place,” he explained.
“We’re keeping all the old heritage bits, but is it a shame that something like Bridge won’t be used? It will still exist, and we can still use it as [part of] a classic circuit. In terms of moving with the times it’s the right thing to do, and it’s also good to have something new for people to race on.” Indeed, Bridge corner is not what it once was, so I’m not sure it’s too much of a loss at all. The fact that Maggotts, Becketts and Copse remain unchanged is much more important.
So far £7 million has been spent on the track and Stowe circuit, 180,000 tonnes of earth have moved around the site (none of it has left the circuit yet as it is all being reused elsewhere), and more than 200 workers are kept busy every day.
Click here to see a larger image
Above was taken from the yellow dot on the map below and looks up towards Priory on the right. On the left is part of the new loop under constrcution.
One of the great things that came across when talking to Phillips was that the spectators are very much at the centre of Silverstone’s plans – the banking is being raised and views across the circuit from the grandstands should be much better.
This year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix could well take in the Arena complex. However, Silverstone is still waiting to get confirmation on those plans from a certain Bernie Ecclestone… Next year more money will be spent again on the new pits and paddock complex off the straight between Club and Abbey. It’s amazing what’s possible when you’re safe in the knowledge that you have a 17-year contract to host F1 in your back pocket… That said, all the work to date would have been done anyway for MotoGP, and only the different run-offs – to suit both bikes and cars – have made a difference to the plans so far.
The last time we saw a circuit in this condition it was Donington last year. Something tells me the future is much brighter at Silverstone, though.
Filed under: Blogs, Formula 1, Motorbikes
Tags: Abbey, Becketts, Club, Copse, donington, Maggotts, Richard Phillips, Silverstone
Ed returned from a stint in Milan, working on the Italian version of Autocar, and joined the team in August 2007. After two years of countless scooter accidents and a constant battle against coffee addiction it was a relief for him to start writing in his mother tongue. As well as managing the website, Ed writes various features and is a regular contributor to CNN, Channel 4, Sky News, the BBC and a number of radio stations. He was also awarded the MSA/Renault Young Motoring Journalist of the Year in January 2009. 
David Fisher:
January 28th, 2010 11:26am
Yes it looks like a building site, but it’s a building site with a purpose. I can’t wait to see the finished product as much of the old track is retained (though I was brought up on the old, old track, the sliptreaming track) with all that character so unlike the sanitised and clinical, not to say technical (how I hate to hear drivers use that term of a new track I just know it’s all 2nd & 3rd fiddly corners) tracks that F1 visits these days. Add to that improved banking and grandstands & we appear to be in for something good. This year I’ve bought a Ground Ticket for the Grand Prix so that I can look at what is new.
Ollie Emmet:
January 29th, 2010 12:41pm
On seeing the alterations I would say that the paying punter looks to have been handed the mucky end of the stick again!,with the start line grandstands moving back almost as far as Silverstone village,and the view from the outside of club corner due to be obliterated when the new F1Stalag is constructed, it is the Silverstone faithful who are going to pay the price again!If you don’t have a hospitality suite to view from or a decent grandstand ticket then forget it !
If what I have been told is true,then I would love to be a fly on the wall in the BRDC clubhouse at the first race meeting,just to see how the members take to watching their racing through a chain link fence,and loosing about half of their lawn to boot!
Mullarkian:
January 29th, 2010 7:09pm
They can do what they like to it but it is still just and airfield track, extremely poor for spectating.
Ed Foster:
February 1st, 2010 10:03am
Hi Ollie,
The grandstands on the pit straight will be further away, but the stands they’re putting up around the rest of the track look like making the viewing MUCH better. I know Silverstone doesn’t have the bonus of being in a bowl like Brands etc. but I do think they’re doing quite a good job.
I’m sure there was even a point when Richard said “and we’re taking out the hospitality suits and raising the ground, and then putting in grandstands.” May be mistaken though….
EF
Ollie Emmet:
February 1st, 2010 10:58am
I believe that Mr Phillips was refering to Becketts when he made the comment regarding raising the ground.
Bear in mind the Becketts grandstand is only used for the Grand Prix.
It contains only a flat viewing platform for the remainder of the year,something to do with rateable value,not a permanent grandstand you see,saves a few bob !
Silverstone has clearly put its Grand Prix blinkers on!
All other meetings are seemingly of little or no importance!
Ed Foster:
February 1st, 2010 11:11am
Hi Ollie,
The Grand Prix is certainly going to be the main event at the circuit. However, all the changes that have been done so far have been for the MotoGP race…
Of course much of the work done has been for safety reasons which, in this day and age, is inevitable. The good part of this is that the circuit is safer of course, the bad part… well spectators are invariably moved further away from the action and the only way to compensate is to move them higher and higher!
The bottom line though is that the British Grand Prix is safe for 17 years… We hope…
EF
Ollie Emmet:
February 1st, 2010 12:29pm
Let us hope you are right !
Will there be enough completed to stage the Pomeroy Trophy in a couple of weeks though!
Never mind Moto GP and all that stuff,how about proper meetings like this !!
Ed Foster:
February 1st, 2010 12:56pm
Their launch date for the new track is at the beginning of March… they say all is ‘on track’ at the moment (sorry, couldn’t resist…), but these things rarely go according to plan.
I’m hoping to race there at the MGCC weekend at the beginning of June so it better be done by then at least!
Never been to the Pomeroy Trophy, but have heard good things about it. Maybe one for the diary.
EF
Ollie Emmet:
February 1st, 2010 1:22pm
You must go !
Always an amazing variety of cars entered
Tends to be somewhat chilly though !
Ed Foster:
February 1st, 2010 2:27pm
I’m sure I’ll cope having been brought up at Knockhill!
EF
Rookie:
February 2nd, 2010 3:10pm
You could always join Silverstone Racing Club so at least if it’s snowing you have somewhere warm and dry to go!
PAL:
February 11th, 2010 12:59pm
I only hope that the improved grandstands will still give spectators great unobstructive views.