Difference between revisions of "Silverstone"

Revision as of 23:06, November 14, 2008

Silverstone has played host to the British Grand Prix in the Formula One racing series since its formation in the 1950s. Being one of the most famous circuits in Grand Prix history, Silverstone has currently survived Bernie Ecclestone's attempts to axe it from the calendar, along with the Magny Cours circuit in France

History

Built as the brainchild of English aristocrat Oliver Keattch in the late 1940s, it incorporated the two runways of the old Silverstone runways of World War Two. Since 1950 it has seen many improvements such as the introduction of the Woodcote/Brooklands/Cormack/Luffield section. Being the stamping ground of British heroes Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and,possibly for 2007, Lewis Hamilton, Silverstone has been a happy place for British winners since the 1990s, with no fewer than four British winners having won there from 1992-1999. In previous years the race has been accused of being dull, but threats of closure have been limited due to the Imola circuits impending improvements

The course

185kph for Copse corner. Sweep down 150kmh for Maggots and Becketts left right complex. 105mph Down Hangar Straight down to Stowe, 110mph, and into the 1991 built Craddock complex. 55mph. Moving into Club corner, this complex is widely received as a break for drivers due to its long sweep. Luffield follows, to Cormack, Brooklands and Woodcote in a 100mph. This tight right hander leads to the main straight and a new lap

The Fans

The fans at Silverstone are notoriously Hamilton-mad, particularly in 2007 after the fall and fall of "Buttonmania", after Jenson Button's diabolical performances. After Mansellmania in the early 1990s, Damon Hill took over in the Fans' hearts in 1994, winning brilliantly, after Race Director Richard Keegal controversially black flagged Michael Schumacher for passing Hill illegally After Hill won, the fans broke ranks to show their delight. This was repeated in 1995 after Johnny Herbert won his first race, brilliantly, for Benetton.

The Weather

Rain is as big a problem as the traffic from the M40 motorway. In 2000 the Grand Prix was unfathomably held in April, leading to swamps appearing in the drenched campsites around the circuits. There have been some disappearances from these wet campsites with some claiming that the mud injures approximately 2.47 campers per year, more when it is wet such as in 1998 and 2002.