British GP at Brands Hatch - Your views

From the number of responses we've had at AUTOSPORT, the issue has split motor racing fans, and not just those in the UK.

Please keep the opinions coming in on this and any other topic you'd like to raise.

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In the mean time, here are some of the replies we received in the past 24 hours.

I think the British GP should stay at Silverstone. Brands Hatch is a great circuit to watch lower formula racing and tin tops (although GTs are a bit big and too fast) but it's too narrow and too small for Formula 1.




Many circuits around Britain offer much better spectator viewing than Silverstone. The facilities there are excellent, although I primarily go there to watch motor racing. Brands Hatch has a superb amphi-theatre which would make it a superb Grand Prix venue, as long as the infield is not taken up by multi-story grandstands, pit buildings or hospitality suites. If the infield stays as it is, then Brands will make an excellent spectator venue.




I think Brands Hatch needs a lot of work done on the circuit and facilities, but it would probably make a better venue than Silverstone.

I think the FIA should allow a second race in the UK. With two races in Germany and Italy, why should the UK not also have two?




I think the BHL bid to host the British GP should have been taken in a more positive way.

If Britain wants to keep both its circuits, why not try to copy what the Italians are doing, hosting two GPs each year? GP of England, GP of Scotland, GP of Wales...? Doesn't that fit in very well with current events?

Alternatively, the two circuits could have made a combined proposal to Bernie Ecclestone to return to the old format where the GP alternated between Silverstone and Brands.




Fellow enthusiasts, don't be fooled by F1 drivers past and present who are looking forward to racing at Brands Hatch. The circuit they recall, which still exists today almost unchanged, will by 2002 be a shadow of its former self.
From the proposed plans it is plain to see that of the original famous corners, only Paddock, Druids and Westfield will remain.

I would hazard a guess that most fans feel like myself in that we are not opposed to the idea of a Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, only to the manner in which it is being conducted.




Silverstone v Brands - What a shame that this fighting is happening at all, but if it must it's a real pity that Ms Foulston has decided not to buy Silverstone.

Brands is simply too far away for most people - I shall not be making such a long journey to see the event. I've seen the GP at Silverstone for the last six years and personally I think the facilities are excellent.




Modern F1 racing needs to recreate some of the glamour of the past if it is to overcome some of its more obvious shortcomings. Nothing conjures up more romantic images than cars hurtling round a natural amphitheatre, piloted by a new generation of charioteers. Ultimately F1 is a spectator sport and Brands offers a far better viewing experience than Silverstone. It is time to put the fans first.




I feel that a return to Brands Hatch for the British GP is a very exciting and mouth-watering prospect for the whole of Formula One.

After viewing the planned changes to the track it definitely seems that Brands Hatch can cope with the mass media attention that F1 receives nowadays. We could have some very exciting races in store.




I think it is great that the British GP.has gone back to Brands. The circuit has always provided great, close racing for Touring cars, F3 etc. It is about time that modern F1 cars experienced the track.




Bringing it back to Brands sounds good. Nice circuit, and for access the transport network should be better than Silverstone. I just have a horrible feeling the infrastructure just isn't in place anymore and there'll be five mile traffic jams on the M25...




British GP at Brands Hatch- I'm all for it!




Brands Hatch would be a great place for the British GP. The Brands GP circuit has to be the best in the UK!

Despite the fact that Silverstone and the BRDC have done a fantastic job over past years the geography of the Brands GP circuit has always been better, even though the facilities in Northants nowadays are in an entirely superior league to those at the Kentish venue. Why can't the GP alternate as it did up to '86? Surely everybody would be happy?




I think the BRDC deserve everything they get. This year I was disappointed to learn that they had stolen one of the best viewing places at Silverstone. They have built a BRDC-only grandstand overlooking the complex where I used to stand. Thanks guys, a great idea, why not cut down the good viewing places for members of the public, you know, the ones that pay to get in. Incidentally, at a recent BTCC meeting the grandstand had all of 20-30 people in it...




I feel the move to Brands will make F1 very interesting but I think the GP should alternate between Silverstone and Brands Hatch and have the best of both worlds.




The Grand Prix back at Brands Hatch cannot happen fast enough. It is good news and I will be buying tickets again. It will be interesting to see which circuit the public prefer.




Brands is a far more exciting circuit Silverstone. The racing will be better and the spectators will enjoy superior viewing.




The British Grand Prix back at Brands, wouldn't that just be superb? After hauling myself to the British GP at Silverstone I was very disappointed with the spectator unfriendly circuit that it is and vowed never to go back. I have always rated Brands as one of the best circuits for the spectator.




I think the Brands Hatch circuit could be a welcome addition to the GP season. A little variation in the circuits is always good I think and for the drivers it must be fun to have different circuits to drive on. At least more fun than the same circuits every year! I have seen some BTCC races there and Paddock Hill bend must be awesome to drive in an F1 car.




I think the GP should remain at Silverstone, the home of British Motor Racing. The facilities are already there, the location is good - why change it? I believe Nicola Foulston could undermine the future of F1in the UK.




Regarding the move the of the British GP to Brands, this is a move I am entirely in favour of and have wanted since Brands lost its alternating GP with Silverstone. I have always considered it to be a far more interesting circuit, certainly from the spectators point of view, whereas Silverstone I have always thought of as flat and boring.




I am in favour of moving the British GP from Silverstone to Brands Hatch mainly because, having been to a couple of GPs (and other meetings) at both circuits in the past, I far prefer Brands as a spectator.

As for the battle between Nicola Foulston and the BDRC, I do not hold a strong opinion. The only point I would make is that I am against any kind of monopolisation, whether by the BRDC or Foulston.