On Sunday I made the 3 hour journey to Silverstone to see the British Touring Car Championship. You can view my photos here.
I usually go to the Thruxton round (which is half the distance away) but missed it for a family commitment. It was raining so I nearly didn't go but my resolve to FINALLY see some racing in 2008 won through! Just ridiculous that this was my first race of the year, I've normally done at least one by mid-summer.
The journey time, plus being delayed by traffic in the rain, and the race timetable this weekend meant I missed Race 1 of 3 of the headline BTCC event, which I was pretty pissed off about because it ended as I was pulling into the car park. Not to worry - still over 5 hours of racing to go! BTCC races are run over 25 minutes and the support races are 15-20 minutes or so.
Short, sharp action is the order of the day which means the drivers take risks. There is also zero gap between races, as soon as one field enters pitlane at the end of a race the next field is leaving to form on the grid before their formation lap.
Once I'd moved from the car park and bought my ticket the SEAT Cupra race was under way, so I picked up a bratwurst roll and headed to the nearest stand where the view was pretty damned good. I found myself at Luffield corner, which is slow but has good sightlines. Thankfully it was a covered stand - the intermittent rain had returned.
I knew there was a break in the programme now and was now desperate for a hot cup of tea after the food and the drive, also I love to wander around getting different views and taking in the atmosphere - so I gave up this view. Little did I know that this was when the '50 Years of BTCC' parade of old cars was happening! Luckily I would meet them in the paddock later.
Tea bought and a wander had, I sat myself in a stand to drink the tea and warm up a bit, finding out that the chosen stand was on the pit straight. Unlike most events, this time I had no plan for where I would be at each race, just take it as it comes and explore. The pit walkabout had just started. I took a photo, sent a text and joined the long queue for the bridge.
It took a very long time to get over the bridge and it was a shame this was the only way in other than walking all the long way to Bridge corner and crossing there. So long that the gate to pitlane itself was closed when I arrived, I 'only' had access to the paddock - which is more access than with most racing series in this country!
I found Tom Chilton and Gordon Shedden of Team Halfords (the rebranded Team Dynamics). 'Sonic' (the hair) is being interviewed in the team hospitality unit, 'Flash' Gordon is the guy in the hat in the foreground. Deciding not to bug them I move on.
I had lots to see in the paddock and wanted to get back trackside before the Clio Cup started - those guys are nuts. It was then I found the historic touring cars from earlier.
I could hear engines firing up in the support paddock, which I never did find, this meant the Clio Cup guys were getting ready to go out. Plan: Quick nose in the back of the pits and then head back over.
(FRenaults were in pitlane not support paddock)
Trackside at Copse corner (turn 1), from this location the Clios were underwhelming, not much happened. I missed lap one getting back over that bloody bridge. I think what action there was was happening elsewhere. Also not much atmosphere as there were only a scattering of people here.
I took to a seat back on the start straight for the second BTCC race of the day. It wasn't eventful from my position but a lot happened elsewhere, suddenly we were down to 15 cars from the 24+ starters. This is a good place to sit for the speed - but you don't know what's going on because the commentary can't be heard over the engines.
There were three support races held between the 2nd and 3rd BTCC encounters. These were the Ginetti Juniors series for teenagers, the Formula Renault 2.0 UK series for developing talent, and the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. One pic from each:
I slipped away during the Ginettas to buy some merchandise, which I believe is a legal requirement at any race circuit. I certainly feel guilty if I leave a track having not bought any. I got the BTCC 50th Anniversary polo shirt in blue, which I recommend to anyone. Returning for the FRenault grid I sat through the rain to watch both this and the Porsche Cup. I'm not entirely sure why I did that, sheer determination to see as much racing as possible I think. Yet there was a covered grandstand a hundred feet away (albeit full).
Up next was BTCC race 3, the partly-reversed grid race. Top x positions from race 2 are reversed, where x is determined by a draw live on TV.
I enjoyed this one. The BMWs were shit-hot off the line, Jackson passed a complete row before my eyes! Amazing traction. Then later Turkington got knocked into a spin by Neal. You could better hear the commentary from this location, the end of the main stand, the large green one with 'SILVERSTONE' written along it.
And so the end! After being disappointed earlier I had significantly improved my mood as the racing went on, despite the rain, by the end I wanted more racing!
This time the BTCC closed proceedings, I have been to other tracks where there is a closing support race to help ease the traffic out. This ought to happen here because the new approach road doesn't solve the problem of leaving the car parks.
Click this for the track map, they used the short layout, turn right at Becketts, rejoin at Priory.
On the whole, if you ever get the chance to visit the BTCC anywhere in the UK, make sure you do so, you get great racing all day long - as long as you pick your viewing spots wisely.
I'm happy I've finally attended a race in 2008. This may by the only one I make this year. I'd like to go to the Le Mans Series at Silverstone in a fortnight but I'm not sure if it will be possible yet.
Finally, there was a fairly big crowd at Silverstone, most of whom were in the covered stands. Check out Autosport.com's photos of Superleague's inaugural event at Donington Park where literally tens of people turned up! I'm glad I didn't go there.
See you in a couple of days for the Detroit IRL notes. I already know the winner because I went to GrandPrix.com and got spoiled - I didn't expect them to report it, they don't always!
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