Silverstone – the name is synonymous with pure motorsport tradition. Located to the south of Northampton, the “Silverstone Circuit” is deservedly known as the “Home of British Motor Racing”. This was the scene of the first Formula One race in 1950. The circuit was built after the Second World War on the grounds of a former RAF base. The first car race was held there in 1948. In 2010 extensive renovations heralded a new era for the iconic circuit. The track is now a combination of established, famous corners like “Maggotts”, “Becketts”, “Copse” and “Stowe”, and the new “Silverstone Arena”. The layout was specifically designed with the requirements of motorbikes in mind. In spring 2011 the imposing new “Silverstone Wing” pit complex was opened between the “Club” and “Abbey” corners. This required the start/finish straight to be relocated. The Superbike World Championship was a regular fixture in Silverstone between 2002 and 2007, and returned to the legendary British circuit in 2010. Silverstone is the second home race of the year for BMW Motorrad factory rider Leon Haslam, whose father Ron runs runs a race school here.
The “Silverstone Circuit” is a very flat track with several long straights, on which the power of the RR plays a major role. Generally speaking, the layout is fast and flowing, but some tricky aspects also need to be factored into the bike’s set-up. There are some bumpy sections and a number of long corners, in which the tyres are put under extreme strain on one side. In the new sections, stop-go sectors complete the mixture of fast and slow, technical corners. Throttle response is equally as important as engine power. The new opening corner, “Abbey”, is very tight and uneven, meaning it is now even more important to start the race from a good position at the front of the grid.
Silverstone Circuit
Towcester
Northamptonshire NN12 8TN, UK
Tel: +44 (844) 3750 740
www.silverstone.co.uk