Why Silverstone?
Originally I'd planned to go to the Spanish Grand Prix, but when plans for that fell through, using the money saved to buy an expensive ticket for Silverstone seemed like the best alternative. With the way this season has been so unpredictable, everyone thought we were going to see the true pace of the teams, as the weather forecasts at the time were predicting sun all weekend (how wrong they were...!).
And it's a cliché, but Silverstone feels like home. There's a really positive vibe, which can't even be dampened by the weather, and everyone is extremely friendly and respectful of each other regardless of what team or driver they support. Where else are you going to find Mexican waves transcending three grandstands to fill up a delay, or a massive mud-sliding competition after the race? The racing almost seems like an add-on compared to the fun you'll have!
Did you meet anyone in particular?
Unless you're very lucky to win a pit lane/paddock pass at the competitions they put on at the Luffield Stage, or get close to the pit wall after invading the track at the end of the race, it's nigh on impossible to meet any of the drivers or other famous faces. Security is extremely tight and you'll be caught very quickly if you try to sneak in anywhere. A pit walk on the Thursday, like most other races have, would be a welcome addition (though you can get in, if you're lucky - more on that later). However, the Grand Prix After-Party, held at the Luffield Stage, goes a long way to make up for this. If you're prepared to leave your place before the end of the race (there's a big screen there, so you won't miss anything), get a spot near the front and take the full brunt of any bad weather, then you're rewarded with live music and interviews with a lot of the drivers:
What about the cost?
It'll be as expensive as you want to make it. You can do Silverstone on a budget, if you go General Admission and bring your own food. But prices for grandstand tickets, and on-track catering in particular, are high. Prices for a bacon roll or burger were averaging £5, £8 for fish and chips, £2 for a tea/coffee and £3 for a pint of lager, although you have Chinese, Thai, Italian and Spanish cuisine to add variety and it's all good quality. I bought a 3-day ticket with a reserved, front-row seat for Sunday in the temporary Luffield Complex grandstand, for £285. Which is expensive, but proved to be a good choice, despite its lack of cover. We got to see Pastor Maldonado bump Sergio Perez off the track, and it was also the place where Mark Webber passed Fernando Alonso for the win! It's a shame they're not going to build it for 2013, as it gave great views and plenty of opportunity to take photographs due to the corners here being slow.
Camping was £60 for 5 nights at Silverstone's official campsite, Woodlands, which is great value for money. Food and drink are track prices but very tasty, and you have plenty to keep you occupied, with an on-site pub and various bands and DJs playing throughout the weekend. The Wimbledon tennis final was also shown on a big screen in The Big Top, which proved very popular. Although the campsite is divided into zones, it doesn't really matter which you choose unless you have a campervan or motorhome, where you're automatically assigned. The campsite operates a tractor shuttle from various bus stops, so you can pitch up in the furthest Quiet Zone and be taken to the track entrance in about 10 minutes. Having said this, the Lively zones weren't overly rowdy and there were plenty of children staying in them - but if live music until 1am and shouts of 'IAN!' in the middle of the night aren't your cup of tea, you may want to try somewhere a bit quieter.
What advice would you give to others?
1) Pack for dry and wet weather, dress in layers and bring a good pair of walking shoes - Silverstone is a huge place and distances between grandstands are large, so you'll be doing a lot of walking. There's also a very cold wind due to the lack of trees, so dress in layers or the cold will get to you, especially if a session is delayed like this year. And as it's Britain, the weather changes constantly - one minute you'll be perishing in the mud and pouring rain, the next you'll be getting sunburn, and often you'll get soaked and sunburnt at the same time!
2) Don't be shy - wear your team/driver colours and be proud of it, you won't be bashed for who you support! You may be teased if whoever you support isn't doing well (especially if you're a Ferrari or Red Bull fan), but it's all in good humour and never nasty. Take advantage of the friendliness of the Silverstone fans and get chatting to those around you, you'll make friends in no time.
3) Plan what you want to see and do - there's so much going on during the weekend that it can get a bit overwhelming. A few days or weeks before you go, sit down and decide what you want to get out of your visit. If you want to take lots of photos, head to slower corners like Vale and Luffield, where you'll have more chance of getting a clear shot of the cars. If you just want to see as much of the track as you can, the Woodcote grandstands let you see the cars for nearly half the lap, from the Wellington Straight into Copse. And if you want to really appreciate how fast the cars can go, watch from Abbey and Maggots/Becketts complex; the speed at which the cars can change direction going through these corners is mind-boggling.
4) Stick around after the race - not everyone can do this, but if you're going for the weekend, stay on Sunday night. The vast majority of the campsites don't close until midday Monday, and the traffic straight after the race is horrendous. There's still plenty to do, the after-party being one thing, but you can also pick up teamwear and mementos from the F1 Village on the old Bridge corner, and even walk the track. I'd definitely recommend walking the track, because you could get more than you bargained for - while on the start-finish straight this year, the pit gates were opened to let the teams' forklifts in, and they allowed the fans in for a while! It was brilliant to get so close to the garages and see how all the packing up worked, and the mechanics are more than happy to have a chat if you don't disturb their work.
You can see more driver interviews from the after-party in my Youtube playlist, and lots more photos in my imgur album. If you have any more questions about the race, you can get in touch via my Twitter account above or in the comments. Hope you enjoyed it!
