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The first races used the original runways,
with long straights separated by tight hairpins, and hay
bales to demarcate the track. In 1950 the circuit was
re-configured to use the perimeter road, and remained
largely unchanged for ~40yrs, when average speeds for a GP
car exceeding 160mph became unacceptable. A major re-design
was completed for the British GP in 1991, which Nigel
Mansell won, famously giving Ayrton Senna a lift back the
pits on the back of his Williams.
Silverstone is roughly equidistant from
Milton Keynes, Northampton and Oxford, with half the circuit
in Northamptonshire, half in Buckinghamshire. It is clearly
signposted off the A43, about 10 miles NW of Milton Keynes,
accessible from the M1 (J15a) or M40 (J10).
Circuit configurations include GP, Arena GP
(new for 2010), International, National & Stowe, it's the GP
layout you'll probably use for a track day.
Heading over the start finish line and into
Copse there are a choice of reference points to pick for a
braking point, but the turn in point is at the arrow board
on the left hand side of the circuit. The apex is at the
second floppy marker and you can let the car run all the way
out to the exit kerb as there is plenty of tarmac run off
on. The run down to the Maggot's/Beckets complex is quite
long and you need to bring the car back to the right of the
circuit but be careful of the pit lane exit as cars may be
joining the circuit as you try to move across. On the entry
to Maggots turn in before braking so you can brake in a
straight line. Try not to use the kerb on the left hand
side. Turn back to the right taking a small amount of kerb
on the right as this will help keep the car straighter for
Beckets. A late turn in means you can carry more speed
through the corner and keep the car to the left for the
final part of the complex. On the exit of Chapel, run right
out to the kerb and then try to straighten the wheel as much
as you can on the exit as the final section can be very
slippery in the wet. There's not much to do for the next few
seconds while you head down Hanger Straight, so check for
faster cars in your mirrors.
After the bridge bring the car back to the
left and gauge your braking from the white line that crosses
the circuit. The turn in point is the tarmac access road on
the left and from the point it's a very gradual turn through
the very fast Stowe corner. Look for the end of the kerb on
the inside for your apex and from there let the car run all
the way out to the exit using some kerb if needed. From here
if you look far ahead towards the gantry you will see a
floppy marker board just below. Drive in a straight line
towards this marker using the gantry and the countdown
boards to judge your braking. This is the slowest corner of
the lap, (remember that a current F1 car only turns in at 55
MPH) so it's extremely unlikely you can match this. From the
apex it is a gradual turn through the long right hander of
club. You should apply power all the way through, moving out
from the apex all the way through the corner. The exit is
the kerb right out on the outside of the corner. The run
down to Abbey is very fast and you can use the road that
comes from the international circuit as a brake reference.
Turn in at the service road - the apex is very apparent.
Take a small amount of kerb on the left and then a lot more
on the left in an effort to try and straighten the exit out.
The next corner is a true favourite among
drivers: the ultra fast Bridge. The turn in point is just
under the bridge and then bring the car into a gradual apex
at half way around the inside kerb. From here it is
important to let the car run right out to the left as this
will stop you loading the car more than is necessary. The
trick is then getting the car back to the right for Priory.
To do so you will need to set the car up so that the braking
zone which is diagonally across the circuit. Aim towards the
floppy bollards which will prevent you from using the access
road but are used as a guide to turn in. From the turn in
look to the inside where there are more of the floppy
markers. Aim for the second one and use a bit of the apex
kerb. From here there is plenty of room on the exit to let
the car run all the way out to the kerb. The turn in point
for Brooklands is towards the end of the kerb on the right
hand side. From here turn in tight to the apex and take the
inside kerb. Let the car run all the way out to the exit; it
is unlikely you will have time to get all the back to the
left so about one third out is fine. Luffield is the most
frustrating corner on the lap. From the apex, which you need
to prolong, you feel like you're waiting forever to get back
on the power but be patient. The final corner of the lap is
Woodcote which is very fast and not much or a corner, but
should be treated with caution as plenty of people have
gotten it wrong and paid a heavy repair bill.
In 2010 there will also be an alternative GP
Layout to be known as the Arena GP and LOT will bring you a
detailed guide as soon as possible.
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