Silverstone FIA GT on the new GP Circuit

[ukaskew]

'Vast' just about sums Silverstone up. It seemed big before, but the new infield section and the frankly enormous Wing have made it all seem bigger still. Double decker buses now take you around, as it's all a bit odd (there is no bridge near the new Pit Straight for a start), endless dead ends don't help if you decide to walk, and the old Pit Straight is a sad old ghost town now.

Spectator friendly it isn't, but as always I'm up for a challenge, and only having 200mm seemed like one hell of a challenge...

Come F1 weekend these will be the most expensive seats, I had every one of them...

The new pit lane...

A few more here: http://chrisharrison.smugmug.com/Motorsport/FIAGT

 

[D4N13L]

wow

 

[Englebert]

Amazing!

 

[ukaskew]

Forgot to mention the Lambo Aventador in the paddock...wow. Wasn't fussed from the pics but in the metal it's stunning, the attention to detail is incredible.

 

[Leeds_VTO]

Amazing Pics as usual, love the sls and the rari

 

[Tony Hunter]

Heard all these testing on Friday,but couldn't get over there as being too busy.
Your right Chris,it all seems very soulless over there now.

 

[ukaskew]

Heard all these testing on Friday,but couldn't get over there as being too busy.
Your right Chris,it all seems very soulless over there now.

It's not a nice place to visit, I'm sticking to Castle Combe!

Could not believe how loud the GT1 cars are, never thought I would say this about a race car but they almost seemed pointlessly loud considering they were not that much quicker than the GT3s.

 

[Tony Hunter]

It's for spectators,nobody wants to watch a quiet race car.

great pics btw Chris.

 

[Jonny1*2]

Great pics mate lambo and gt look ace.
It's a shame, but I've never really liked the 'feel' of silverstone. So much history, but the track from a spectator point of view is rubbish. I prefer tracks like Donny because they're more spectator friendly. Ever since WSR moved to silverstone it's not been as good. From a racing perspective it's a great track though and the new complex (despite removing the bridge) adds a different dynamic. Can't wait for f1

 

[JamesS]

A few more pictures of the new Silverstone (not up to the same standard as the OP's, but they may be of interest).

My view during the morning warm-up.

View of the back of the new paddock complex. Very nice facilities (even if the builders and electricians were still completing it on Thursday!), but a massive oversight is not having a way of getting to the paddock other than a us ride (a tunnel or bridge to the paddock area will surely have to be added!).

A friend in one of the Super Trofeo cars.

The podium, with a very well deserved win by a British team!

The winning car!

The remains of the Aston and Nissan after Stefan Mucke had a Days of Thunder moment. I hope that after that behaviour he is given a severe reprimand and isn't allowed to race for some time!

 

[ukaskew]

That was unreal, pleased to say they've recommended that his license should be withdrawn. GT1 is finished once this season is done.

 

[Englebert]

Blimey! I would say he will certainly lose his license.

 

[Jason_E]

It was pretty brutal!

Lovely pictures, that pit straight looks crackin'. Back to where it was before (1940's and 50's iirc?)

 

[Gally]

Wow! Red mist much!

Poor from a pro driver! Retaliation!

 

[maynard]

What a plank what was he thinking of!

 

[dunganick]

Nice set Chris. Love the reflection shot and the last one of the 458. New pit complex looks great, lots of interesting photo ops.

The new glass looks to be working superbly. Give a Nikon 1.4 or 1.7tc a go, the Nikon glass takes them much better than Sigma glass, i think you will be impressed.

 

[Winged-Will]

Great pics, I went to this last year, would have gone again but it clashed with Oulton Park BTCC, really want to see one of those 458 gt3's in the flesh though!

 

[JackJack]

Fair play to matey in the Nissan very controlled reaction i would have gone mad.

 

[ukaskew]

Nice set Chris. Love the reflection shot and the last one of the 458. New pit complex looks great, lots of interesting photo ops.

The new glass looks to be working superbly. Give a Nikon 1.4 or 1.7tc a go, the Nikon glass takes them much better than Sigma glass, i think you will be impressed.

A 1.4 is on the list, I had one with my old Nikon 80-200 and it made literally no difference to AF speed, very impressive.

I would love Hospitality/Media access at Silverstone if only to get a few top down shots of pit action, pretty much the only time I've really wanted to get behind the scenes (I'm a semi-official Castle Combe photographer now, supplying shots for their site, programmes (I had the cover for the last race meet) etc...yet I've never gone trackside, I just love the feeling of achieving what I am from positions that anyone has access to)

 

[dunganick]

I can certainly see the appeal of getting the quality of shots you do from where you do. Having said which i seem to be finding myself shooting from speccy positions more and more these days.

 

[Cookie]

As much of a cnut as Mucke was, Westbrook did steer in to him a bit (on the previous collision)

That might have been looked at, had he not taken matters into his own hands and written off a stupidly expensive racing car

 

[Marky_]

I heard they came together in the previous race/session as well but that is inexcusable.

Great pics btw Chris