Silverstone-what a laugh

[MG Freak]

I decieded, that because i was insanely bored, i would watch the GP 'highlights'.

Dear me, how boring is F1, i then later watched Croft, the excitment, the drama, the skill, everything F1 lacks.

It also now looks certain that F1 may not vist the UK again. My view, flatten silverstone and create a whole new circuit, with parking and decent stands. Forget the heritage.

[Claire]

MG Freak you must have been watching a different British GP to me then, I was marshalling on the Hangar Straight and was nearly had my hands on the nutter that decided that rather than going to church to spread the word of the Lord he would run down the straight instead whilst the whole pack was streaming past at about 160mph but that wasn't the only excitement, there was heaps of overtaking and close racing, I love my touring cars but I have to say on this occasion that the British GP was great and if they do decide to take it away it will have a massive effect on British Motorsport which in turn could have implications for all the other British Championships including the BTCC.

[John]

Originally posted by MG Freak

It also now looks certain that F1 may not vist the UK again


Its hardly what you'd call a certainty is it?! :rolleyes: :confused:

[Claw]

You thought the GP was boring! LOL

It's been one of the best this year, tonnes of overtaking. I enjoyed it much more than the British Vauxhall car championship.

You were probably dissapointed cos there was no crashes! :rolleyes: Fair enough you watched the highlights, and they missed lots out. You should have watched it live. It was brilliant!

As for flatten Silverstone!? Half of the F1 drivers love it and it's a great track.

[Alan]

You should have watched the race live MG Freak!

One of the best GP's for a long time - genuine racing, lots of overtaking and no - it wasn't caused by rain.

I didn't see the "highlights" but it sounds as if that is what they missed out!!:D

I can't see the British GP disappearing next year or for many years - don't get too worried about Bernie's sabre rattling - he is only keeping them on their toes at the BRDC - and I do think he needs to do that.

There have been alot of changes at Silverstone, they just need to keep improving and in about 5 years they might overtake Rockingham!

The circuit is great and the drivers like it, it is only the facilities that need improvement.

[Toto]

I agree with MG Freak when he says flatten Silverstone and start again. I think it a poor circuit, in terms of lay-out, appearance and facilities. Really quite embarrassing.

However, to say the British GP lacked the excitement of the BTCC ... Sorry, but the British GP was a cracker and better than many BTCC races we've seen this year.

[Claw]

Originally posted by Toto
I agree with MG Freak when he says flatten Silverstone and start again. I think it a poor circuit, in terms of lay-out

Even though most of the the f1 drivers love it and it produces great GPs. One of the few quality tracks left on the F1 calender.

Flatten it then your flattening a world class track.

[Les]

I see two totally different comments there -

the grand prix was boring - look I don't even like F1 and I was enjoying it and everyone around me said it was the best one for years.

Silverstone should be flattened - yes please! It has no soul. It can take 70,000 people and make them sound quiet and bored.

[Claw]

I can't beleive the amount of people that want Silverstone flattened!!!!!!!!

It's one of the last real tracks on the F1 calender, the driver LOVE it and it's a real challenge.

Just cos it produces boring BTCC races, F1 is more important than some national championship!

SILVERSTONE GP CIRCUIT IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD!

[Amanda]

The track at Silverstone might be fine but the facilities for spectators are awful! The thing I hate most about the place is that we are so far from the action. I live half an hours drive from Silverstone but would prefer to go to Knockhill anyday as it has real character.

The people who run Silverstone should go to Rockingham and learn how it should be done!

[MG Freak]

The whole point abaout a circuit is soul, atmosphere, silverstone does lack it. Ive watched a variety of races there, and there is nothing, nothing to keep you exciteded. Ive tried all different corners, but none of them give the excitment of Brands or Rockingham.

[Les]

I can see where Claw is coming from - I mean just imagine F1 going round Snett or Knockhill - ludicrous.

So Wembley used to be kept JUST for big football matchs so keep Silverstone JUST for F1 and send the BTCC and club meets elsewhere. Silverstone just does not work for slower cars or smaller crowds.

But Amanda - at Rockingham you are just as far from the action as at Silverstone - give me Knockhill, Croft or Snetterton any time and what worries me now is Brands is heading the same way as Silverstone what with the fences.

Fences - that reminds me. At Croft there is a high fence but you are right up against it, at Knockhill, OP, Snett, Thruxton there is just a low fence. Why then does Silverstone and Brands need an inside fence as well so there is a no man's land?

[Alan]

So the conclusion is keep the track at Silverstone but improve the facilities? Got to say the loos are now very good at Silverstone!

Fences - how about the high fences inside Redgate and Craner Curves at Donington! I am told it is for the bikes but I am inclined to think it is for the crowds - damn nuisance I am afraid if you want to take a pic or two (even with my height).

Les - I think you have a point, keep Silverstone for the GP, maybe World Superbikes etc. It has already priced itself out of the market for alot of race series anyway.

All aboard the Knockhill bus!!!:D

[John]

Thats a very interesting suggestion about the 'Wembly style' use for F1 and WSBs, would the BRDC be able to make the circuit economically viable though if they didnt get BTCC, F3 etc attending at other times of the year?

From a TV point of view I think S/stone can provide good BTCC racing, but from the circuit spectator point of view it appears less appealing (not been myself so cant comment) and with it being on the bill as a GP support there may well be a case for replacing the other BTCC meeting with another circuit in the future...... *cough* Knockhill *cough cough* ;)

[Cleland Fan]

I don't get why people bash Silverstone. The facilities are fine now. Definitely on a par with Rockingham with regards to hosting the BTCC and other national series anyway. Plenty of carparking, decent toilets etc.....

[Le Mans]

Originally posted by MG Freak


Dear me, how boring is F1, i then later watched Croft, the excitment, the drama, the skill, everything F1 lacks.



Saying that F1 lacks the skill of BTCC is probably the most ignorant thing I have ever seen on any motor racing forum. (Is it true that John B&Q turned down a drive for Ferarri?)
:rolleyes:

[Amanda]

Originally posted by Les

But Amanda - at Rockingham you are just as far from the action as at Silverstone - give me Knockhill, Croft or Snetterton any time and what worries me now is Brands is heading the same way as Silverstone what with the fences.

Fences - that reminds me. At Croft there is a high fence but you are right up against it, at Knockhill, OP, Snett, Thruxton there is just a low fence. Why then does Silverstone and Brands need an inside fence as well so there is a no man's land?

Les ~ I agree that you are just as far from the action at Rockingham but it produces much better racing. Like you I would much prefer to go to Knockhill, Croft and Snetterton.

I can remember going to Silverstone with my Dad in the late 80's and the only fence was a metal bar that you could walk right up to and lean on. Those were the days!!:D

[Claw]

MGFreak- The skill of the driver was excellent for the GP. Apart from JV and MS' severe swerve, the other 18 drivers racing was clean and very skillful. With the amount of overtaking we had, you would think a couple would come together, (well that would have happened a couple of years ago) but no, no one came together. Great driving skill. Maybe the BTCC boys should take a lesson from them! :rolleyes:

[Les]

Claw - no need to be quite so rude.

Skill I have decided is when someone does something so well it looks easy. And F1 had plenty of that and so does the BTCC.

I would just love to see them all swap places for a day. Just imagine MS doing without launch control and all the other gadgets or Paul O in a Ferrari - yikes!!

[touring fan]

IMHO part of the problem with Silverstone is that it looks old and run down.

A bit of work to some of the grandstands and buildings would help to improve it's image and a bit of work on the spectator enclosures (a bit of turf laid down for instance) would make it feel newer. I had a bit of a wander around different places on friday last week and there are some good viewing spots on the GP track but it feels like you're out wasteland becuase it seems as if nobody's been there to do any maintenance for ages.

For the BTCC races I normally hand over the extra fee (not wothout a grumble at the price) and sit in one of the woodcote grandstands because you can see quite a bit from there but it would seem better if there was a bit of legroom in there (and I'm not a tall person but I find it cramped) and the paint wasn't peeling and everything looking a bit knackered.

I think the track itself is fine.

[Kelvin]

Not flattened, but some serious landscaping to make more dips and hills. Make it easier to get around the whole circuit too!!

[Le Mans]

Originally posted by Les
or Paul O in a Ferrari - yikes!!

Cannot happen. He is too wide. (To put it politely).

[Sim_Da_BTCC_Man]

Originally posted by Le Mans
Cannot happen. He is too wide. (To put it politely).

Your Blind :p

Theres more fat in salad

[Les]

too wide - never. He has a lovely bum ;)

[Peter]

I attended the British GP on Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed it. For a series that receives plenty of (justified) criticism for providing processional races, the quality of racing more than matched a typical BTCC race. I am therefore very surprised by MG Freak's comments. To be honest, even the live ITV broadcast did the race no justice- plenty of passes and incidents were missed, e.g. Montoya and Ralf running wide at Silverstone, prior to Kimi's mistake.

I see no reason to change the layout to the GP circuit whatsoever. It is one of the few circuits that hasn't been butchered by Hermann Tilke (i.e. Hockenheim and Nurburgring).