British GP: Fan limit may rise to 65,000

Having come close to losing the race from the Formula 1 calendar because of traffic problems over the past two years, the circuit imposed a limit of 60,000 fans for race day this time around. But circuit leaseholder Octagon Motorsports believes the road developments around the Northamptonshire track will guarantee the best access to the British GP ever.

Octagon will meet with the police and the highways agency to discuss upping the fan limit to 65,000 tomorrow (Friday).

Circuit boss Rob Bain said that the team orders controversy at last weekend's Austrian GP has not caused a backlash to the popularity of the Silverstone race. When asked how many people have demanded their money back since Sunday, he said: "Very few. We're sold out for the Sunday and we're still getting calls for tickets - to such an extent that we are thinking of releasing 5,000 extra tickets for race day.

"The reaction has actaully been the reverse to what you might expect. Bernie [Ecclestone] always says any PR is good PR and people taking about F1 as they have done after Austria is obviously good."

Bain claims that Silverstone is getting 200 calls a day for race tickets and is confident that the new road infrastructure will deal with extra demand. The new A43 by-pass will not be complete, but it should be usable for race traffic, meaning that Octagon should get back the £5 million bond it placed with motorsport governing body the FIA last December to guarantee no further congestion problems.

"The traffic plans are the best ever we've had for Silverstone," said Bain. "It will be the best ever [British] GP for traffic. Whether it is the best GP for racing, you'll have to ask Michael Schumacher and Ferrari."