Somehow I've ended up at the British Grand Prix!Once again spare syndrome has struck. Last week I was told there might be a spare ticket going for the Sunday - eventually turns out the tickets are for the whole weekend! So, rather earlier than is strictly necessary on a Saturday morning, I head up the M40 to the old airfield on the Bucks/Northants border that is Silverstone.
I'm not really a petrolhead - the occasional viewing of the World Rally Championship or Top Gear is as far as it goes for me - but the person I'm with knows their stuff and so I won't be ignorant the whole weekend.
The weather is breezy but apart from a brief shower it is dry. Silverstone is flat and the wind means that the weather barrels across the sky at great speed. It's reckoned about 60,000 turn up for qualifying day and the place is comfortably busy - quite how it will be tomorrow with the capacity 90,000 will be interesting. Although we get in (and leave) very easily I can already foresee problems with larger numbers. For example, the male toilets are incredibly badly designed with only one entrance/exit - they look new but have the owners not been to other stadia to see how best to design such places? And if you're a vegetarian then you are screwed re catering - most food on offer seems to be a variation of sausage.
The weekend is against the background that Silverstone has lost the British GP to Donnington Park - mainly to do with facilities. It seems as pity are the racetrack is excellent - it's one of the few in motor sport that allows overtaking - at the sight lines are fine. The number of helicopters flying around is incredible - every UK based chopper must be here.
An interesting day, but who knows what tomorrow will bring - especially looking at the weather forecast!
No comments:
Post a Comment