Silverstone today unveiled the new track layout designed for Moto GP and Formula One, officially opened by the Duke of York.
The new ‘Arena’ section extends the track by 0.472 miles to bring the total lap distance to 3.666 miles.
This comes as part of a two-year development. 2011 will see the introduction of a new pit area and start/finish line just before the Arena complex.
The new area of track adds a new straight to the track, which will make the circuit the fastest, average speed-wise, on the calendar despite the overall lap-time increasing by 3-4 seconds.
It is designed to offer a better viewing experience as well as greater capacity and more of a challenge for the drivers.
Damon Hill BRDC president, explains the circuit upgrades: “This has been the result of a very long, hard battle to upgrade the facilities and provide a venue that is the best venue for drivers and fans.
“The important thing was to make it sustainable and realistic, and unfortunately the Donington project was unrealistic and wasn’t able to fulfil what was needed to be done. So we’re back here. We want to provide the very best, but it has to be sustainable.
“We’ve reconfigured the shape of the circuit – this is the first year of a two-year development place. For next year, there will be a completely different position for the start-finish line, so the pits and paddock will be in a completely different place.
“The centre of attention, the start and finish, will all be down the other end of the circuit. We hope it will provide much better viewing facilities, greater capacity and also more of a thrill and challenge for the drivers.”
Onboard Video:
2010 track configuration:
Aerial shot including new pit area:
2011 pit buildings:
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