British GP Organisers Announce New Ticket Plan

The organisers of the British Grand Prix, Octagon Motorsports, have announced a new ticket sales plan for next year's event in a bid to improve traffic flow in and out of the Silverstone circuit.

The British race is only provisionally on the 2002 calendar as the Motor Sports Association (MSA) investigate complaints into traffic problems at this year's race. As a result, Octagon have announced that ticket sales for next year's event will be reduced by 30,000 and special prices have been arranged in an attempt to improve traffic flow in 2002 and secure the long-term future of the race.

Octagon revealed on Monday that tickets for the 2002 British Grand Prix will be sold at this year's prices until November 15.

A five per cent increase has been placed on the three-day general admission tickets, which will be in operation from November 16, but Octagon's chief executive Rob Bain insisted that the decision will help improve Silverstone for the long-term.

"We have been given the opportunity to invest in the long-term future of British motorsport," Bain said. "We appreciate that price increases are never popular but we are developing Silverstone to re-launch the venue within the premier tier of the world's F1 circuits by 2004."

Octagon are attempting to reduce the traffic activity around the circuit and will offer free park-and-ride services to spectators next year as another part of their plans. The organisers also said that some car parking facilities will be relocated for the 2002 Grand Prix when new links from the government's M1-M40 link road will be completed prior to the event.

"Improving traffic arrangements into Silverstone is part of the modernising process which will be reflected in enhancements of the facilities in coming years," Bain added.

"We spent more than £1 million on car parking and access improvements for the 2001 event with tangible benefits. Now we need to move this process on a further stage and major construction work is going on throughout the winter to ensure the circuit infrastructure is ready to accommodate the forthcoming M1-M40 link route."