Thursday 7 July 2011

Preview 2011 Silverstone, Great Britain GP

new paddock

Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. Actual configuration of the track, wich is a facelift for 2000-2009 circuit, its designed by Drew MacDonald, who's not called Hermann Tilke.
Technical details
Silverstone Circuit has 5,9 km, 52 laps with a race distance of 307 km; 6 highspeed straches, 3 slow turns, 3 ideal spots for overtaking and a top speed around 300 km/h. Best Preview by Mark Webber(last year winner):

Wikipedia History
It is best known as the home of the British Grand Prix, which it first hosted in 1948 and which has been held on the circuit every year since 1987.
Following the deaths of Senna and fellow Grand Prix driver Roland Ratzenberger at Imola in 1994, many Grand Prix circuits were modified in order to reduce speed and increase driver safety. As a consequence of this the entry from Hangar Straight into Stowe Corner was modified in 1995 so as to make its entry less dangerous and, as a result, less challenging, and the flat-out Abbey kink was modified to a chicane in just 19 days before the 1994 GP.
On 30 September 2004 British Racing Drivers' Club president Jackie Stewart announced that the British Grand Prix would not be included on the 2005 provisional race calendar, and if it were, would probably not occur at Silverstone. However on 9 December an agreement was reached with Formula One rights holder Bernie Ecclestone ensuring that the track would host the British Grand Prix until 2009 after which Donington Park would become the new host of the British Grand Prix. However, the Donington Park leaseholders suffered economic problems resulting in the BRDC signing a 17 year deal with Bernie Ecclestone to hold the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
On 1 August 2007 it was announced that a £25m redevelopment of the circuit had been approved, with new grandstands, pit facilities and a development centre planned. However, on 4 July 2008 it was announced that the event will move to Donington Park from 2010.
On 7 December 2009, Silverstone was awarded the rights to host the British Grand Prix for the next 17 years. Part of the deal is for a new pit lane to be built.
On 11 February 2010, it was announced that the British Grand Prix would use the "Arena" circuit configuration, thus increasing the track's length by 759 metres. Ahead of the 2011 Grand Prix, a new pit complex is scheduled to be completed, making the straight between Club and Abbey corners the new pit straight.
On 1 March 2011 Silverstone Circuits confirmed that the Bridge section of the track had been decommissioned and would not be used again. Large scale earthworks are currently taking place to open up this area for spectators.

Statistics
1948 circuit, utilising the main and second runways. Lap record: Luigi Villoresi, Maserati, 2:52.0 (1948 British Grand Prix)
1949 to 1951 Lap record: José Froilán González, Ferrari, 1:43.4 (1951 British Grand Prix)
1952 to 1973: following the relocation of the pits area. Lap record: Ronnie Peterson, Lotus-Ford, 1:16.3 (1973 British Grand Prix)
1975 to 1986: with the Woodcote Chicane in place to reduce speeds through Woodcote Corner. Lap record: Keke Rosberg, Williams-Honda, 1:05.591 (1985 British GP)
1987 to 1990: with the Bridge Chicane in place to reduce speeds through Woodcote Corner. Lap record: Nelson Piquet, Williams-Honda, 1:07.110 (1987 British Grand Prix)
1991 to 1993: Redesigned track (every corner except for Woodcote & Abbey is redesigned), incorporating the new Becketts, Vale, Priory and Luffield corner complexes and elevation changes throughout the track. Lap record: Nigel Mansell, Williams- Renault, 1:18.965 (1992 British Grand Prix)
1994 and 1995: with the addition of the Abbey Chicane. Lap record: Damon Hill, Williams- Renault, 1:24.960 (1994 British Grand Prix)
1996: with minor adjustments to the Stowe and Club corners. Lap record: Damon Hill, Williams-Renault, 1:26.875 (1996 British Grand Prix)
1997 to 1999: with further changes to the Vale complex. Lap record: Jacques Villeneuve, Williams-Renault, 1:21.598 (1997 British Grand Prix)
2000 to 2009: with the reprofiled Luffield complex reduced to one corner. Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 1:18.739, (2004 British Grand Prix)
2010: with actual configuration Lap record: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:30.874

Pilots on Silverstone:Sebastian Vettel: races - 3, victories - 1, podiums - 1, poles - 2
Mark Webber: races - 9, victories - 1, podiums - 2, poles - 0
Lewis Hamilton: races - 4, victories - 1, podiums - 3, poles - 1
Jenson Button: races - 11, victories - 0, podiums - 0, poles - 0
Felipe Massa: races - 8, victories - 0, podiums - 0, poles - 0
Michael Schumacher: races - 16, victories - 3, podiums - 7, poles - 1
Nico Rosberg: races - 5, victories - 0, podiums - 1, poles - 0
Nick Heidfeld: races - 10, victories - 0, podiums - 1, poles - 0
Vitaly Petrov: races - 1, victories - 0, podiums - 0, poles - 0
Rubens Barrichello: races - 18, victories - 1, podiums - 6, poles - 2

Now lets see last year pole by Sebastian Vettel 1:29.615:

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