posted Jul 2, 2007

We need a new circuit about 100 miles north of London, but Brands is a better circuit no question. Go to silverstone most weeks and it is a boring circuit with no overtaking. Brands would be better but we really need a new circuit, how about the TT circuit in the isle of man

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posted Jul 2, 2007

As has been said it simply would not be possible sadly. I love Brands, but they'd really have to cut so many trees down to create the needed run-off, and there are now simply too many houses near the circuit to get an even as loud as F1.

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posted Jul 5, 2007

no way! Silverstone is a much much better track than BH. Silverstone is in the top 3 F1 tracks in the world along with Monza and Spa. It has everything. Long high speed straights, tight left-right chicanes, the awesome copse corner and the unique becketts complex. It's super fast, and a real racers circuit - you need balls to race there, it is still one of the few circuits left that hasn't been neutered and sacrificed on the altar of 'safety'. Heaven help they ever change it and ruin it like that once other great track Hockenheim. Silverstone rocks!

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posted Jul 6, 2007

Brands Hatch is a glorified karting circuit and logistically impossible for F1.

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posted Jul 6, 2007

Brands brings back good GP memories from the 70s, with the title and non-title races, with those great views over a good chunk of the circuit. The last time I went to Silverstone, it took me 4, that's FOUR hours to get home to Wellingborough. Silverstone has fallen victim to the high sppeds and capabilities of the modern car -- I'd love to see today's drivers going through the awesome kink at the old Abbey. Brands' coziness is its downfall; Silverstone's location is crummy. I attended the Canadian race this year and everything about it was superb. The track, the location (10 mins from the city centre by tube), the ticket prices (100 pounds each for all 3 days for 2 people to sit in Turn 6 grandstands) the prices at the food and drink stands, the organisation, scheduling, manners and behaviour of staff and spectators which you couldn't even pray for in Britain, the list goes on, but most importantly, the city of Montreal itself is glorious. Unless the circuit makes its own statement, which Brands might just about do but Silverstone definitely doesn't since all the passing was removed, the nearby attractions have to be worth something. At least Brands is somewhat travelable to London, Canterbury etc. As lovely as the East Midlands countryside is, no-one wants to see it when the race isn't on. A circuit has to be near a place which means something -- look at the US race in Indy: the recommendation for something to do on your off time was Chicago, 180 miles away.

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posted Jul 6, 2007

I think it should be done at neither of these locations and have an F1 Race round London, just like Monaco

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posted Jul 6, 2007

Brands is a non-starter because of the communications. For a BTCC race, Silverstone tails back to Towcester, but Brands clogs the M25 through the Dartford crossing. You can shut the A43 for a weekend, but not the M/A20. There is no railway nearby, or the possibility of building one, because the local lines do not have the capacity. That is before uprating the circuit to meet current standards - that would mean stripping away most of the features which give the place the character that fans of the place (past and present) love.

When Damon and his pals get down to doing the work which Bernie demands, Silverstone will be something else again. An F1 circuit will not be a trial of man, machine and road. It will be a big arena where many people pay lots to keep the tills tinkling. This is what Bernie is building in the countries where F1 is new, and he is keen to build more at the expense of the old-world historical venues. If Silverstone has an F1 future, this is what that future is. It would be interesting to see if F1 in Europe is gaining fans faster than it is losing them (active ones who pay to attend Grands Prix), or do we need a new Lewis Hamilton every year?

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posted Jul 7, 2007

The London Grand Prix is a Fantastic Idea But Ken Livingstone won't put enough money in. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6262674.stm . Brands Hatch Isn't in a good place. Aintree is a good idea but no one is willing to put the money in. I think that our best solution is to use the TT course while someone builds a track or developes a decent one that has good trasnport facilities and is a good track. Like the Isle Of Man TT Course.

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posted Jul 7, 2007

We should have it round the Olympic Park

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posted Jul 7, 2007

There is a real alterative to Stalag 99 (Silverstone) for the British GP and it is only a few miles away from Silverstone. It is Rockingham. They have a choice of layouts, massive stands, but I don't think Rockingham wants the race due to the massive cost and the fact that the GP is a loss maker money wise

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