Hi all!
I’m considering buying weekend general admission tickets for next year’s British Grand Prix and was just wondering if anyone has any advice?
If you want to go and watch some “Racing” then don’t bother
A GP is about far more than the race, that is just the icing on the cake . Book three days so you can see as much as possible ,from different vantage points , keep on the move, watch the fast stuff like Copse but don’t neglect the slow corners like Village and watch carefully- you will see stuff that TV doesn’t cover well, or at all . Arrive early , especially on race day … for which you really need a grandstand seat . I’d go for Village as you see the cars for a decent time and it’s a good overtaking spot .
I did this for decades but now I far prefer the Silverstone Classic - access all areas, better noises and far more interesting varieties of car. But a Grand Prix is still a very special experience - and far better to experience by being there than watching telly .
I went to the GP at Silverstone for the first time last year, and as John said, it’s more than just about the race. We got their early (maybe around 7.30/8am) and we were entertained all day. In some respects I wish we were there for 2 or 3 days so that the wandering around can be done at leisure and then Sunday can be sat watching the racing.
We were in the grandstand at Woodcote last year, so we could see the cars coming down the Wellingston Straight, around Brooklands/Luffied and then down the old start/finish; it was a good spot.
We’ve already booked tickets for next year and this time plumped for Club Corner, given our seats we may be able to see the finish line, but certainly prime viewing for the podium and/or getting on track quickly following the race.
Nearer the time, keep an eye out on what events are on in the Fan Zone. Last year they had the James Bond cars, and even though it was free it was a ticketed entrance.
Unless you go for a general admission ticket it’s a very costly day out, but if you’re a fan of F1 then I think it’s worth it for the experience, even if it’s just the once.
Oh, and headset radios are useful to listen to the commentary - they sell them on the day for £12 but are on sale in the Silverstone shop right now for £6 each (just bought one for my partner and his mother for next year’s race).
Whatever you do, get there early!
My mate and myself camped there in the official campsite at Woodlands…plenty to do, places to eat etc but expensive. We didn’t bother with a grandstand seat for qualifying or the race just take a fold up chair and your own food and drink into the circuit to keep costs down. There is entertainment inside the circuit after racing finishes for the day and same in the campsite too. Dont forget the red arrows display on race day before the race starts too. And view the race from somewhere near the start finish straight if you want to do the circuit invasion after the race. If camping I recommend staying the Sunday night too to avoid the queues leaving after the race.
Somewhere I have a photo of a mechanic working on Berger’s Ferrari F1/87 in the pit garage, taken from about 5 feet away . Evening entertainment back then was to stroll around the F1 and support race paddock - no pass required. This was before Ecclestone turned it into a soap opera for the masses , and before hysterical fans went weak at the knees at seeing an F1 driver and were kept apart from anywhere near the F1 pits. A few years earlier , at Brands , I remember nearly colliding with Messrs Surtees and Hill in deep conversation- I tried to behave as though bumping into world champions was perfectly normal for me …
Thanks for the comments/advice/info.