CIRCUIT INFORMATION AND RACE PROGRAM
THE 2005 FOSTER'S BRITISH FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX
The sense of national pride throughout a Silverstone Grand Prix weekend is only comparable to Monza or Hockenheim. Come rain or sunshine, the British Grand Prix offers a unique and an electrifying atmosphere. Originally an airfield circuit, has been transformed several times since then. Silverstone briefly became notorious for track invasions at the height of "Mansell" mania in the early 1990's, but the atmosphere has since calmed down. Thereafter Damon Hill fans used to dominate, even though Hill has only once won his home race.
Silverstone's owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club, promote the circuit as the home of British motor racing, and there is a strong argument for that claim. This Northamptonshire track hosted the first ever official World Championship Formula One Grand Prix, back in 1950. In recent years, many of the corners at Silverstone have been re-profiled - or many might argue emasculated. Indeed it was this previously super-fast layout that saw Keke Rosberg qualify for the 1985 GP at an average speed of over 255 kph!
What also makes Silverstone interesting for F1 enthusiasts, is the fact that Britain is home to several of the current and past F1 teams. Right outside of the gates of Silverstone is team BAR Honda. Nearby in Brackley is team Jaguar (now Red Bull) and team Williams is located in Milton Keynes. This means that many teams are racing on their home turf and competition always heats up, as every team thinks they know the circuit better than the others.
SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT EVALUATION
General
Having been built on top of an old airfield, the Silverstone circuit is very flat and is made up of a series of long straights, connected by fast open corners. Enthusiasts and drivers alike are divided about their take on the track. Some like the track, because it is fast and combines some of the most famous corners in racing history, others consider Silverstone to be a flat, characterless circuit.
The track requires a medium to high level of down force, and the mixture of high and low speed corners with some long straights, makes Silverstone quite a physically and demanding racing circuit. The circuit demands cars to be good aerodynamically, mechanically and also in terms of power. Teams must decide whether they will go for power and speed for the straights or extra grip for the corners.
What the drivers say
The drivers consider Silverstone to be one of the fastest circuits on the current F1 calendar, with the Becketts complex considered to be the best corner combination of any racing track. The track is a mixture of high and low speed corners, with some long straights, making the circuit physically demanding for the drivers, and overtaking notoriously difficult, but not impossible.
For Silverstone the drivers prefer a car that is very responsive to change of direction, stable around fast corners and has good traction with minimum understeer in the stadium section. In terms of set-up, it is important for them that the engineers track any changing conditions, particularly the wind which can have a big effect on the car.
For them, the fact that the marshals at Silverstone are very experienced is also important. The only thing they actually complain about, if at all, is the usually typical British weather.
EVENT PROGRAM AND INFORMATION
Although not yet finalised for 2005 we have included the 2004 Formula 1 GP program to give you an idea of what the event program should look like. Except for qualifying which will change from the previous one final qualifying session (Saturday) to two final qualifying sessions (Saturday and Sunday), for 2005, we do not expect any other major changes from the 2004 GP program and information.
So please take note that the following program is the 2004 Formula 1 program information, and it will change for 2005, which to date has not yet been finalised.
THURSDAY
| 14h00 - 15h00 | Formula 1 GP |
Track Familiarisation - Safety Car |
| 15h00 | Formula 1 GP |
Press Conference - Press Room |
| 16h00 | Formula 1 GP |
Team Managers' Meeting |
| 17h00 | Formula 3000 |
Team Manager And Drivers' Meeting |
FRIDAY
| 09h00 - 09h30 | Historic Sports Car Challenge |
Qualifying Session |
| 09h40 - 10h30 | Formula 1 GP |
Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk |
| 11h00 - 12h00 | Formula 1 GP |
First Practice Session |
| 12h30 - 13h00 | Trofeo Vodafone Maserati |
Practice Session |
| 14h00 - 15h00 | Formula 1 GP |
Second Practice Session |
| 15h30 - 16h00 | Formula 3000 |
Practice Session |
| 16h00 - 17h00 | Formula 1 GP |
Press Conference - Press Room |
| 16h30 - 17h10 | Formula 3000 |
Qualifying Session |
| 17h40 - 18h25 | Porsche Supercup |
Practice Session |
| 18h00 | Formula 1 GP |
Drivers' Meeting |
SATURDAY
| 09h00 - 09h45 | Formula 1 GP |
Third Practice Session |
| 10h15 - 11h00 | Formula 1 |
Fourth Practice Session |
| 11h25 - 12h10 | Porsche Supercup |
Qualifying Session |
| 12h20 - 12h50 | Formula 1 |
Paddock Club Pit & BRDC Lane Walk |
| 14h45 - 12h57 | Air Display |
Blue Eagles |
| 13h00 - 13h50 | Formula 1 |
Pre - Qualifying Session |
| 14h00 - 15h00 | Formula 1 |
Qualifying Session |
| 15h25 - 15h40 | Formula 3000 |
Starting Grid Preparation |
| 15h40 | Formula 3000 |
Pit Lane Open |
| 15h50 | Formula 3000 |
Pit Lane Closed |
| 16h00 | Formula 3000 |
Race (30 laps) |
| 17h40 - 18h10 | Trofeo Vodafone Maserati |
Qualifying Session |
SUNDAY
| 08h15 - 09h15 | Formula One |
Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk |
| 09h30 - 10h00 | Trofeo Vodafone Maserati |
Race (12 laps) |
| 10h10 - 11h00 | Formula One |
Paddock Club & BRDC Pit Lane Walk |
| 10h15 | Porsche Supercup |
Drivers' Track Parade |
| 11h10 - 11h40 | Air Display |
Race (12 laps) (Grid girls) |
| 12h00 - 12h24 | Formula One |
Red Arrows |
| 12h30 | Formula 1 GP |
Pit Lane Open |
| 12h45 | Formula One |
Pit Lane Closed Grid Formation |
| 12h46 | Formula One |
National Anthem |
| 13h00 | Formula One |
Foster's British Grand Prix (60 laps) |
| 15h30 | Historic Sports Car Challenge |
Race (12 laps) |
