The British GP saga finally seems to be done with; yesterday Silverstone’s owners signed a long term contract for the race. For the last 20 years I think the British GP has always been under some kind of threat, but it’s also been assumed that somehow everything will come together and there will be a race in Britain.
Countries like China, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi that are willing in invest millions in government money to get some of the reflected glory that hosting F1 can bring. Silverstone is privately owned and all of the income comes from ticket sales.
As cool as these new facilities are, they don’t have the tradition, or sense of occasion that the classic, old school tracks has. The whole series is enhanced by races at Monaco, Spa, Monza and Silverstone, and I think Bernie and the other organizers understand that.
Ther 17 year contract gives the BDRC the stability they need to make the investment that the circuit desperately needs. As ever the financial terms have not been disclosed, but it’s reputed to be around $20 million in 2010. Abu Dhabi on the other hand is said to be closer is rumoured to be paying closer to $45 million. This lower rate for Silverstone indicates that Bernie understands the importance of the traditional stops for the F1 circus.
I can’t imagine a championship with out a stop at Monaco (or Spa, or Monza, or for that matter Silverstone), however if they were to submit an application to host a race for the first time today, they would never get it. The track is narrow, too many places to crash, limited run off areas and really poor facilities for the teams. The garages are some distance from the track in an underground car park and the cars are moved every morning and afternoon back and forth to the tiny, cramped pit garages.
Yet despite this, it’s possibly the highlight of the year for everyone involved in the F1 circus. The parties were better in Adelaide, but walking up the hill towards the Casino on Friday night in a tux (in the practice Thursday and Saturday, race Sunday years) was one of those special moments that make all the travel, pressure and endless late nights worth it.
