WEC, ELMS, and F3 at Silverstone.

[Jason_E]

Let me start off by saying, consider this post "Part 1" as I'm going again tomorrow, and I'll be bringing the camera.

This weekend is the Opening round of The World Endurance Championship, and the European Le Mans Series (And the F3 Support race). Got a ticket through work as one of our HPD cars is being run by the all british Strakka Racing team in the WEC.

This was my first trip to Silverstone since the layout change, and it was very odd. Considering I've been going here since about the age of 3. A lot of my Pictures are more arty farty today, tomorrow I hope to get more action. Mainly because I'll remember the right lens. Figured this was the better section to put it in than Photography though.

Bridge Corner, Silverstone WEC 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Alpine, Silverstone WEC 2013 by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

F3 Paddock, Silverstone WEC 2013 by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

F3 Paddock, Silverstone WEC 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Classic R5, Silverstone WEC 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Tyre Wall, Silverstone WEC 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Strakka Racing ARX-03c, Silverstone WEC 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Spectator, Silverstone WEC 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Bridge Corner, Silverstone WEC 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

I'll put the second half of Pictures up tomorrow evening!

 

[Sam@NP]

<3 bridge corner

 

[Jason_E]

In 2007 I sat on the Outside of bridge and was watching F1 cars nail it flat out. Didn't think 6 years later I'd be standing on the track lol.

 

[.LiamC.]

I'm there tomorrow. I went to the round there last August, was supported by the Formula Renault 3.5's.

I know what you mean though, it's wierd not having bridge corner anymore. Although I do like the new layout.

 

[Gavin.]

Motorsport day tomorrow, F1 and WEC. Awesome.

 

[ukaskew]

Great shots, nice to see something a little different.

 

[Tony Hunter]

Of all the corners to not use any more, Bridge. Should have been against the law. I can't be arsed to go. Might change my mind by tomorrow though.

 

[Slammed172]

As UKaskew said, nice to see something different from an day like that, great photos..surprised your not at Early Edition tomorrow Jason.

 

[percy555]

Hi, yes I agree, it's good to see some different photos, I wish you were able to get the reg. numbers of those Alpines, I used to sell them and it would have been nice to see if one of them had passed through my hands.

 

[Lawro]

That R5 looks awesome! Great shot of bridge corner too.

 

[Jason_E]

Part 2, the Sunday:

Ended up coming home about half an hour ago, and I'm watching it on Motors TV as we speak!

Got there at about 9:30, as I wanted to do the Pit Lane walk. Said hello to some mates working up at Aston, then spotted one of my Colleagues who was at Strakka providing engineering support so I had a little nose around their garage. Was cool seeing all the parts I'd been working on actually liveried up and on the car!

Strakka Garage, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Strakka Garage, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Audi Garage, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Sat down at "Village" for the start, liked the view.

Audi, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Ferrari 458, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Aston, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Strakka, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

458's, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Went for another walk around to meet my boss who had turned up, and to scout out further viewing positions.

Aston, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Strakka HPD ARX-03c, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

And then, as if their weekend couldn't get any worse...

Stricken Strakka Car, WEC Silverstone 2013. by Jason.Easton, on Flickr

Took a Ferrari out as well. Not bad effort!

Basically, not the best weekend for Strakka or HPD. But did enjoy the racing! One thing I will say is, who was the r****d that designed the new Silverstone layout and forgot about the fans? I'm bloody knackered. They need a bridge or tunnel near the new pit straight ffs. LOL

 

[ukaskew]

Basically, not the best weekend for Strakka or HPD. But did enjoy the racing! One thing I will say is, who was the r****d that designed the new Silverstone layout and forgot about the fans? I'm bloody knackered. They need a bridge or tunnel near the new pit straight ffs. LOL

The plan is to put a hotel and proper grandstand where the temporary stand is opposite the new pit complex, with a bridge connecting the outfield and infield.

I agree it's a horrible place for fans (I love how half of the new pitlane isn't visible from the stand), but ironically it's 100% better than when I went to the FIA GT a few years ago. Then you couldn't walk around to the paddock (bus only, which were always rammed), which meant a large section of infield viewing was completely out of bounds. They are supposed to be making the infield fan friendly, who knows when.

Thankfully things like Britcar use the old paddock, which is so much better for access, far less 'them and us'.

I couldn't help of think of somewhere like Castle Combe (where you can walk the entire circuit without leaving the immediate track perimeter) when I walked for a good 15 minutes from the International Straight around to the infield without seeing a single bit of in-use track!

Great shots from the weekend by the way, love the paddock stuff.

 

[Jason_E]

Thanks!

Yeah as I said this is the first time I've been since the Layout change, and as someone that has grown up around this track it just doesn't feel finished. Before the change they had it spot on I think for fans, all of the improvements over the years had come together and it was a proper complete circuit. Hopefully all the new stuff takes it back to what it was! Also found it strange walking around the outside and it being so quiet on the old pit straight. No more massive grandstand or bridge etc. I have hospitality at F1 this year so hopefully that has a better bus. I didn't actually bother with the bus this weekend.

 

[Tony Hunter]

To me, it's lost it's charm. Not that it had that much to start with.