British GP makes big changes for fans

Formula 1 fans have been promised a 'very different' experience if they go to Silverstone for this year's British Grand Prix, after race organisers revealed their plans to boost spectator facilities

Although the focus of circuit bosses over the winter was in getting the revised track layout completed, Silverstone's managing director Richard Phillips said on Saturday that efforts were now being put in to enhancing the viewing experience.

The plans include revised barrier layouts, which will allow fans to get up close to the track at the Vale section before Club, as well as higher and better-positioned grandstands at Becketts, the new Arena section and along the start-finish straight.

"It is very, very different to what it was like before," Phillips said during a visit to the Turkish Grand Prix. "We have to make sure we get the infrastructure right, and when people go there they are going to be doing different things to what they did before. We are dead keen now to reinvest in the experience."

Although general admission tickets have sold out for the July event, grandstand seats are still available - and Phillips reckoned that the view from Becketts would be unbeatable this year.

"The best spectating point at the circuit now is probably Becketts," he said. "We have knocked the old grandstand down, reprofiled the bank there and we are putting in a 7000-seat grandstand.

"The grandstands are also being raised in the air - so you can see up to Copse Corner, down to Hangar Straight, down to Abbey and a long way down the old national straight."

The grandstands on the main start-finish straight have also been made larger and raised in height, while new viewing sections are being installed at the Arena complex.

Silverstone is also finalising plans to show the World Cup final on television screens after its post-race concert on Sunday night.