Grapevine: No sell-out for British Grand Prix

Silverstone confirmed on Friday that, with just three weeks to go before this year's event, there would be no hat-trick of sell-outs following the success of the race in the past two years.

That despite organisers having made arrangements to ensure fans don't miss England's opening game, scheduled to take place on the same day as qualifying for the British Grand Prix.

"With just four weeks to go until the British Grand Prix, ticket sales are slightly behind where we were at this time last year, and that is one hundred percent due to public interest in the football World Cup," said Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone.

"The public's attention has been diverted away from the British Grand Prix, but we'll still have a huge crowd on 11 June. It's unlikely the event will sell out, but we'll be extremely close."

Phillips also suggested that the change of date for this year's event, moved forward a month from its traditional July date, has had an effect on sales.

"While we're fully prepared for our biggest event of the year, there are definitely fans and corporate guests out there who will be surprised to hear the British Grand Prix is just four weeks away," he said.

"We've gone to great lengths to communicate the new date, but there are still people who think the Grand Prix is in July.

"If ticket sales soar over the next four weeks the British Grand Prix could, potentially, still be a sell out, which would give us a hat-trick of our own. It's important people know the British Grand Prix does not automatically sell out.

"The last thing we want is for fans watching at home to spot an empty seat and think, 'I could have gone to Silverstone, but I thought it was sold out'."