[secondmortgages]

...I still find it abit sad that Abbey and Bridge are effectively gone..

I'm still mourning a previous incarnation of Silverstone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tNGCq24bbE

[GueseVekdet]

Looks like there is still a bridge in the second straight added?

There is indeed a bridge on the national striaght however it isn't enclosed on both sides like bridge was/is so the sound won't bounce off so much. Overall I think the new layout is an improvement and will finally offer a big stop on a track that didn't really have any before. Club through abbey and all the way up the current international straight will all be flat chat so hopefully a few passes will occur at the new complex.

[Escamsrasiush]

Silverstone certainly has always needed justification for carrying brakes on a car. If the photoshopped layout is what is actually going in, I think it will be a good change and add some opportunities while still being a balls-out, ultra high speed F1 track. Just please tell me Hermann Tilke isn't allowed to walk the grounds of Silverstone, much less have any hand in changes to the track...

It's not as if the Silverstone F1 layout hasn't been changed numerous times in the past, and it's also not like they can't go back to the old layout as it's never seemed like they really ever actually remove any on the old course when they introduce new changes.

[kucheravka]

Well at least the Maggots/Becketts complex remains intact, that (im my view) replaced Bridge years ago as the circuit's best challenge.

Agree, but the problem is that with the circuit now being longer there will be less laps so less times through Maggots/Becketts

WT

[irrascaft]

I'm still mourning a previous incarnation of Silverstone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tNGCq24bbE

lol they needed to red flag that race. cars were spinning like on ice in the warm up lap and even in the warm up practice. Undrivable

[Theariwinna]

Well at least the Maggots/Becketts complex remains intact, that (im my view) replaced Bridge years ago as the circuit's best challenge.

It's all about Copse corner these days. Even Hamilton was feeling chicken about that corner till he nailed it flat out for his pole lap in 2007

Looks like there is still a bridge in the second straight added?

There's a bridge on Hangar Straight but Bridge itself - the sound is more immense, more like tunnel. Also, Abbey chicane was another great spot (along with Maggots) to view the speed and direction change.

[replicajoy]

I'm hoping that the new Arena layout will actually offer more spectator banking, so i'm all for it, yes bridge has gone but has bridge ever been the same since abbey was multilated in the mid 90s, vastly reducing the entry speed to bridge? I think not.

[effebrala]

I always like Priory so it will be a little bit disappointing to see that go. But the new layout does look very promising and I hope it lives up to expectations.

Does this affect the international circuit?

Thanks for that 1978 International Trophy video Arrows. One of the best races I've seen

[GueseVekdet]

Yes, the international track will certainly change (and may be gone forever). If you look at the photoshop - the National track still leaves the GP layout at maggots but the International layout used to be the next right but that seems to be gone.

There is a link from the new arena track to chapel but if I were a betting man I'd guess that the International events would switch to the south circuit and the new pits that will pop up after club, that would allow Silverstone to run smaller events on the National track at the same time as major events on south - that makes a lot of sense, financially.

[Gaxiciverfere]

I like the look of it, hopefully it will produce good racing

[effebrala]

Yes, the international track will certainly change (and may be gone forever). If you look at the photoshop - the National track still leaves the GP layout at maggots but the International layout used to be the next right but that seems to be gone.

I thought as much. I'm not happy about that because I loved the international circuit for touring car racing.

[GueseVekdet]

I thought as much. I'm not happy about that because I loved the international circuit for touring car racing.

Its still guesswork as it is a photoshop - perhaps the International track as we know it can be saved? Although personally I always found that layout a bit lacking.

[effebrala]

Its still guesswork as it is a photoshop - perhaps the International track as we know it can be saved? Although personally I always found that layout a bit lacking.

True, I'll wait until there is more news on the situation. I never found it lacking. I thought it was always a nice concise lap with every corner posing an overtaking opportunity. If anything, I suppose there was nothing particularly special about the layout when compared to Oulton Park or Brands Hatch, but I always seemed to enjoy watching races at that track over the years when the BTCC hit it.

[Theariwinna]

Its still guesswork as it is a photoshop - perhaps the International track as we know it can be saved? Although personally I always found that layout a bit lacking.

Better than the National circuit, IMO, which reminds me of Avus & Norisring.

International is a bit more intersting. Abbey is my favourite viewing spot. Can't see why they can't make it similar to the last corner of the Nurburgring GP/Nordschleiffe

[GueseVekdet]

Better than the National circuit, IMO, which reminds me of Avus & Norisring.

International is a bit more intersting. Abbey is my favourite viewing spot. Can't see why they can't make it similar to the last corner of the Nurburgring GP/Nordschleiffe

National does what it needs to - a 60 odd second lap for junior formula with a variation of corners in its compact size. International is Ok but a bit.....dull. Coming at Bridge from a virtual standstill from abbey hairpin removes the challenge.

Silverstone is always evolving so let's see what they come up with.

[secondmortgages]

Thanks for that 1978 International Trophy video Arrows. One of the best races I've seen

You're welcome. Only came across the clips recently and it was the first time I'd seen the race since being there. It was my first 'live' F1 race and we were watching at Abbey corner getting very wet



Here's Mario, giving the gorgeous Lotus 79 its debut (IIRC), having just hit the Abbey "lake".

[aparneioninny]

I like it, especially as it means they'll put in a new pit/paddock which in turn should mean Bernie shuts up and lets the British GP stay on the calendar for a while!

[replicajoy]

I thought as much. I'm not happy about that because I loved the international circuit for touring car racing.

The reality is that the BTCC havnt used the International circuit for a number of years, instead preferring the shorter National circuit. To think of it I think only F3 have used the international layout in recent times.

[Theariwinna]

The reality is that the BTCC havnt used the International circuit for a number of years, instead preferring the shorter National circuit. To think of it I think only F3 have used the international layout in recent times.

On the same bill as Brit GT annual 2hr race there too

[Ilaubuas]

The reality is that the BTCC havnt used the International circuit for a number of years, instead preferring the shorter National circuit. To think of it I think only F3 have used the international layout in recent times.

British Superbikes too. Though not quite the same circuit since they use the tighter version of Luffield followed by the ridiculous chicane across the normal pit lane entry.