British GP: Readers' views

I cannot believe that Bernie Ecclestone was at the same place as me on Sunday. The main problem at Silverstone has always been the parking and traffic jams, especially exiting the circuit. The use of the new bypass to route traffic back to the motorway network was excellent, we had no queuing at all. Rob Bain, Octagon Motosport and the local police should all be complemented. Now all we need is for Mr Ecclestone to open up the paddock to the fans and our weekend will be complete. Oh, and perhaps he can fix the weather too after he has apologised to Rob Bain!

Matthew Ward, Silsden, West Yorkshire

I thought the race itself was one of the better GP this year. I unfortunately have to rely on Channel 9 in Australia for the broadcast and their efforts of late are pretty poor. Anyway, enough whinging... I think it would be a crying shame to see the British GP removed from the calendar. Particularly if it were replaced by China or Russia. I can't see that they would be an improvement - other than one of financial gain for certain individuals. There are plenty of other races where the venue is below par and it's accepted. Certainly below that of Silverstone.

Paul, Sydney, Australia

I thoroughly enjoyed the British Grand Prix which I watched on ITV on Sunday - it was by far the most exciting race of the season so far. As someone who has in previous years suffered the traffic problems getting in and out of the circuit, and tramped through the mud at the 2000 event, I was amazed to see the aerial pictures of free flowing traffic on Saturday and Sunday, and that certainly makes it more likely that I will travel to Silverstone in future.

Marcus Cullen

So Rob Bain has resigned after some derogatory comments made by Bernie Ecclestone. I for one would like to show my appreciation for the work Mr Bain and his team put into this years event by putting Ecclestone's views into perspective. There is no doubt that Bernie has done more for F1 than anybody else over the years, however, he is one of a growing trend of people to criticise anything British. Had improvements been made on such a scale at the Brazilian Grand Prix for example (mmm, there's a thought), then I'm sure Ecclestone would have had nothing but praise for the South Americans. Yes, the British Grand Prix has been a shambles in the past, but come on Bernie, give credit where credit is due and stop being so ashamed of Britain.

Darren Finch

Drivers Massa and Raikkonen were the absolute stars of the race! Both of these young men are going to be fantastic to watch in races to come.
With Ferrari being so dominant the leader of the race is almost becoming irrelevant, because there is nothing to hook a spectator in when Michael Schumacher has a 48 second lead...

Karen Veale

Thought the race was excellent, it's a pity that Michelin could not provide a compound to compete with the Bridgestone, otherwise the race may have been even more exciting. The access to Silverstone is greatly improved but I feel the facilities afforded to the spectators inside the circuit still leave a little to be desired.

Peter Jepson

I was a competitor in the historic support race. A great event well run by HSCC and Graham White. I thought the traffic was fine and the same as any major event.
The problem with Silverstone however lies inside the gates. In reality apart from being bigger (and therefore having more space) it is no better than any other circuit in the UK. The facilities are poor or mostly non-existant. This should not be the case for the premier motorsport location in the UK - it should be a showpiece not something put together for one event. Enthusiasts such as us go for the racing of course (which was pretty good). However F1 is more than that in 2002. It is time that Silverstone at least ups its game. If the UK really is the centre of world motorsport then that industry needs a showpiece not an embarrassment.

John RT Monson

Being able to get door-to-door (Silverstone to London) in little less than four hours this year was a huge improvement. The last few years it has taken almost four hours to get to the M40 from the parking area. Parking facilities was a different class this year and we even had a great race to watch. The TV screens' text were difficult to read and loudspeakers didn't do the job. Minor issues though in the total picture for this years Silverstone GP. Huge improvements - well done!

Lars-Christian Brask

I had not attended a British GP since the late eighties because of the
contempt with which spectators were treated. I thought it was time to try
again feeling certain that there would be a significant improvement after a
decade and a half. I congratulate Silverstone on the traffic management for the British GP. I only attended on Saturday but the traffic was free moving both for access and egress. It was a vast improvement on any GP event that I'd previously
been to. Unfortunately that's when the pleasure of the event ended. Bernie
Ecclestone hit the nail on the head with his criticisms. However I don't
wish to denigrate others enjoyment of their day.

Ian Johns

I cannot adequately express how impressed I am with the improvements to the A43 and inside the circuit. The journeys I made over Friday, Saturday and Sunday took no longer than on any other day of the year. All the contractors and staff have been brilliant, and I made lots of new friends. Someone must stop Rob Bain leaving, Octagon have achieved so much in such a short time, and Silverstone deserves to hold the Grand Prix indefinitely. I would be amazed if anyone who attended (apart from Bernie Ecclestone) has anything bad to say, and as we all know he has his own private agenda. Keep up the good work, we'll all be back next year!

Sarah Coleman

I did not attend the GP, but thoroughly enjoyed it on TV. I find Bernie Ecclestone's outburst totally unacceptable. It seems amazing to an outsider that one man can behave in such an outrageous way, and wield such influence. Rather than praise Silverstone for leaps forward he chooses to attack them for his own mistake. When do the motor manufacturers take over? It can't be too soon for me.

Peter Fletcher, Swindon

My last visit to Silverstone and the GP was in 1998, afterwards I vowed never to go back until improvements were made and went to Spa instead. So now was time to go back. Studied the recommendations given, left Ipswich at 06.15, used old experience and cut across the country and got onto the M1 south of Milton Keynes and came off at Junction 15A, not 15, and drove straight in and parked at about 8.00 am. The new roads were brilliant, it was unbelievable. There were a lot more toilets than I remember, perhaps we could have done with some more catering facilities, security staff were friendly, stand gates were opened after each track activity and not too many human bottlenecks. However I did refuse to pay £10 for a programme. Got back to the car at 15:30 and prepared myself for the usual tense and frustrating exit, no way was I going to be so lucky as the morning. To my utter amazement we rarely stopped and I was home in by far, far the best time ever recorded. Incredible. I would like to thank everybody involved at Silverstone for a great day, you far exceeded my expectations. Stick to 60,000 please. To Max, thank you as well, and as for Bernie's day - Yesssss,
there is a God after all!

Chris Daniels, Ipswich

Millions spent on improving the Silverstone access roads. A multi-million pound Pits/Paddock complex in the works. Perhaps the best GP of the year last sunday. Now the British Grand Prix, and the home race of many of the teams is in danger because Bernie got a little delayed landing his private helicoptor and got a little lost in the infield. I think that says it all about the people who run F1.

Dan Vitale

My friend and I went to Silverstone by public transport from London on the
Saturday. The shuttle bus from Northampton station to the track had a smooth
ride without spending hours in a traffic jam like used to happen before. The
in-road to the track for pedestrians was paved this year, which was a
pleasant surprise from the muddy pools we usually have to navigate walking
to the track. There were many more loos than last year so less queues which
was nice and there was a new food area with seating benches which looked
more organised and welcoming than the scattered food stalls with looooong
queues from before. All in all much better experience than last year.

Paula Scherpenzeel,
UK

I went to the circuit on Friday and was staggered at the amount of work they
have managed to complete since I was last there (March of this year). But all power to them they have done better than I was expecting.

Kirstin Shelly,
UK

It was the best race this season. The awesome driving display by Rubens Barrichello, carving his way through the field (even before the rain started), and the brilliant racing battles with Montoya, simply highlight the position that Silverstone is a truly great racing circuit. Overall it was probably one of the best weekends I've experienced as a spectator. Hats off to the organisers for a brilliant job all round!

Tahir Said,
UK

This was my first British GP and, alas, it will be my last as well. I watched the race from the Becketts grandstand...and it was great while the thrill of seeing the drivers and cars in the flesh lasted. Once that wore off there wasn't much to keep me going - only negatives.

The tannoy was inaudible - especially once the cars had spread out on the track. The only available videoscreen was sideways and in the distance and rapidly I lost track of who was where and why. I watched the replay on F1 Digital+ when I got home and it was like a completely different experience. Personally, I feel there's nothing to be gained in any way from attending a GP. Not only do you have to put up with a complete lack of information but the fans are atrocious as well. Legions of sad people, decked out, from head to toe, in their favourite corporate colours, vaguely bouncing along in some mock-patriot mode...cheering when Barrichello stalled on the grid. Disgusting. Luckily for me, I bagged a pair of tickets for £30. If I have paid the full price I'd have been furious for parting with that kind of money. Not only that...don't these people already make enough money without having to charge £2.50 for a debatably "jumbo" hot dog and £10 for a programme? We may be motorsport fans but some of us aren't suckers.

Andy Evans,
UK

This was the first time I have been to an F1 race, and the only complaint was that it was too cold! Everything else was fantastic. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. It was also the first time that I had seen an F1 car being driven in anger. I was sitting at Copse in Stand D, and could see all the way to Woodcote one way and all the way to Becketts the other. Thank you to Octagon, Mr Ecclestone and Ferrari for making my first time so special!

Hugh Anthony,
Southampton, UK

I went on the Saturday qualifying day. While the traffic problems were significantly improved the facilities within Silverstone were as squalid as ever - mud and pools of water everywhere... When is the ordinary spectator going to be able to stand on decent paved viewing areas instead of dirty grubby gravel/earth mounds? Toilets were over flowing at 8:00 am in the morning etc...

All in all a very off-putting image to anyone who visits. We are expected to pay an enormous amount of money to put up with a very substandard service.

Gary Hood,
UK

I thought the British GP was the most exciting race of the season so far. From the moment Rubens had to start at the back of the grid to the chequered flag there was action. Rubens' fantastic drive to second place made excellent viewing, and prompts the question - why not reverse grids for all GPs?

For me though the onboard footage from Michael Schumacher's car as he chased down Juan Pablo Montoya was the highlight of the event...more footage like this please ITV.

Scott Cole,
Cheltenham, UK

Send your opinion of Silverstone and the British GP to Autosport.editorial@haynet.com