Silverstone Improves as Ecclestone Looks to its Future

Silverstone owners are promising the track will not see similar mayhem during the upcoming British Grand Prix weekend, as was the case last year.

Last year, the British Grand Prix was held in May and the rain was falling so hard that the parking lots became a big mud trap to cars. Organisers went as far as asking ticket holders not to come to qualifying on Saturday, and the FIA later fined them for what turned into a chaotic event.

However, Rob Bain, Octagon Motorsport CEO, said they are confident this year's event will not become a rerun of last year's. "We have carried out a huge amount of work over the winter months with this year's event in mind," he said. "Our priority has been to make considerable improvements to short-term parking and traffic flow and amongst other things, we have widened gateway entrances and improved road approach angles, laid six kilometres of new access roads and installed 660,000sq ft of reinforced meshing for car parks."

In the mean time, fund raising continues for the futuristic plans of turning Silverstone into the most advanced racing circuit in the world. However, while Bernie Ecclestone has given £15 million for the works, the F1 ringmaster now says he does not believe the government will be willing to give its share in the £45 million needed for the construction.

"I think they will probably say these people make enough money out of motor racing so why should we put any money in, so I suppose probably they shouldn't," said Ecclestone.

Nevertheless, Ecclestone said there is already enough money to proceed with the renovation plans, which include a complete redesign to the circuit layout, new pitlane and paddock facilities, improved grandstands and parking lots. "We have already raised enough money to do what we want to do, it is a question of whether we want to do something better," Ecclestone stated.

"The plans for Silverstone are certainly a lot better than what we have got," added Ecclestone. "They are in the early stage and probably they will finish up being changed a lot before they start laying the bricks and mortar. But what we are striving to do is make a facility that is as good or better than most of the facilities in the rest of the world. The alternative is to move. We want motor racing to stay in Britain. If we are not going to do this, we are definitely going to be on our way."