Hill: British GP 'must' give more to fans

The president of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) that owns Silverstone, Hill has told this week's Autosport that the needs of spectators should come well before ramping up of facilities so that they are a match for state-of-the-art venues like Shanghai and Bahrain.

Silverstone has been under intense pressure from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone for several years to improve its infrastructure, and has been told that it must make a major revamp of facilities if it is to hold onto the event.

Earlier this month Silverstone rejected an offer from Ecclestone to alternate the Grand Prix with France in exchange for delaying a rebuild of facilities.

"The question is, what do you want the message of the British GP to be?" said Hill in an exclusive interview with this week's Autosport. "Should Silverstone be a monumental palace or should it be the most exciting race track in the world? I have my view on that.

"Press centres, paddock clubs and hospitality are great for clients, but what about the spectators? We want people to come to Silverstone and have the best day out and the best value for money, otherwise they won't come back."

He added: "The last couple of GPs I've come to I thought they were sterile. I can remember when Grands Prix were fantastic events over three days and the spectators would enjoy all the things that would go together to make motorsport great - and the climax to it would be the GP.

"There needs to be greater variety and better value for the race. If you go to Monaco it's quick-fire racing all weekend. That used to be the case here.

"We need to make the British GP the greatest motorsport event in the world. We should try to be something like Goodwood, only better, and with real racing. We should build around it as a show, with lots of attractions.

"That would benefit F1. You're not going to detract from F1 by having a Formula Ford race. We need to create an atmosphere - and I know Bernie would like that."