Not knowing what the traffic was like last year after the new road opened, and only knowing what it was like a couple of years ago, does anyone know what time would be best to aim for arrival on say, the A43, to be in the grand stand for around first practice session???

This is not for me but for a friend, and the only advice I can give him now is, get there bl00dy early... I queued for 8 hours a few years back when they shifted the race to April (rainy season) and missed the first 30 minutes of the race.. Not been since... :(

Any advice would be most greatful!!

Simon

This year no public traffic (other than those with the coveted car park passes) will be allowed near the circuit, instead they are operating massive park and rides from the M1/A43 and M40/A422. I presume there will be queues into these and also for the coaches, however the coaches are getting exclusive use (along with the officials) of the A43 (new dual carriageway) so they won't get stuck in traffic.

It sounds much better than in previous years but I'd still get there bloody early unless you've got a car park pass.

I have one of the coveted passes - however from reading the Northants police website it is not obvious how this will work in practice!

They have a complicated map on their website....and there is no mention of park and rides.

Just heard that for the second year running Silverstone have declined to use the F1 recommended signage for traffic - given all the information I have I am not surprised!

Rannoch

PS Grand Prix Ball last night was absolutely fabulous :D:D:D:D:D:D

Tell them to set off now:D

LOL @ BOBT...

Thanks for the info, I think he is going to attempt to get in for about 8am... personally think that is a bit too late, but you never know, maybe they have got there parking arrangements nailed now... :o

He has the pit straight grandstand seats and he reckons he's got a parking pass, but I don't know whether that entitles him to get to the circuit or not.

I am sure he'll find out soon enough :)

Cheers

Simon

Rannoch

Before I got hold of a car park pass I rang Silverstone to find out about parking and they told me I would have to go to the park and ride as police would not be letting any car without a pass near the circuit. However since then I have got a pass and have also studied the Northants police site and am also a bit confused so have decide to go my usual route and see what happens, the route I take in takes me past my designated car park anyway and is marked on the police site as being one of their one way systems in so I'm hoping it'll be ok.

Sal

Park and Ride info here (http://www.itv-f1.com/silverstone/info/parkride)

More info here (http://info.bgp-f1.com/)also states that police will turn all cars away from the direction of the circuit if they don't have a car park pass and pointed towards the park and rides instead.

[Edited by scoobychick - 19/07/2003 18:11:34]

Well, left York at 5.30am, had a petrol stop, a coffee stop to pick up Mr Lateral Performance and was parked trackside at 8.15am!!! Top route in - took 15mins from J15a. Others took over an hour to get down A43 route!

Bugger getting home tho - not helped by the M1 being shut Northbound for two hours just after race ended, further compounding the permanent roadworks around J25, and then there was an accident! :(

Top day out tho - interesting race - did M Schumacher turn up? ;)

Rannoch

Indeed a top day :D

I met Sal @ 07:10 @ Duxford (M11/A505) & due to a combination of smart driving & cool navigation, we took 1hr 20 to get into Silverstone :D (Nice to go in in a soft-top too :D)

Another of my party left Sandy in Beds around 07:00 & didn't make it til 11:00 :eek: So thats closer & longer :eek: Took proscribed route :rolleyes:

Hung around to wath the Quo & there was no delay in getting out & back...

:)

'Puff-Nav(tm)' available from all Puffs :D

LOL @ scoobychick

Seems that access is improved on the whole...

Assuming that we still have a GP next year, I will have to make it down...

Depends on if I go to the Monaco GP a month before again tho :D:D

Great race tho, superb viewing whether you were there or in the arm chair...

Simon