New Silverstone layout unveiled
Hermann Tilke's redesign of Silverstone includes new F1-only pits and a banked Club corner
Silverstone chiefs the BRDC, have revealed a new £45 million infield complex aimed at making the Northamptonshire circuit "the best in the world". The changes - funded by the BRDC, leaseholders Octogan and Bernie Ecclestone - will be ready for the 2003 season.
Described as the biggest makeover in 52 years, Sir Jackie Stewart, President of the BRDC and Rob Bain, Chief Executive of Octagon Motorsports, hailed the master plan as "a revolutionary step forward for British Motorsport". Both expressed their confidence that by 2003 Silverstone would be competing at a world-class level, with state-of-the-art facilities for the media, teams and spectators.
Renowned circuit specialist Hermann Tilke, who designed Malaysia's Sepang circuit, has designed the new layout, which sees the track turn right and bypass the Abbey chicane into a new infield section. However, the most dramatic changes will involve shifting the pits complex to a new position on the straight linking Club and Abbey corners, while oval-style banking will be added to Club corner itself to provide an added dimension to racing.
The new infield will be formed by joining the straights on the national and international circuits, bypassing the challenging Bridge corner altogether.
The new pit buildings will be dedicated Formula 1 facilities, with the grandstands on the current start-finish straight moved to face them. The old pits and pit lane will be retained for all other forms of racing, however.
The changes are part of a £95 million package designed to safeguard the future of the British Grand Prix. The BRDC is expected to lobby the government for a further £40 million to help create a national centre of excellence for motor racing and provide a link road to the new bypass.
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