Silverstone Two Day Test - 8/9th July

[steveaki13]

Hi guys, girls and Donkeys ;)

I have been to 4 or 5 GP weekends over the years, but for the first time I thought I would try going to the after race test. As (weather permitting) you get to see more action generally than a Friday of a GP weekend and for a lot less.

Its £25 for a day of F1 Testing or £40 for both days. When its £60 for just 3 hours of F1 running.

Anyway I have a few question and thoughts:

Despite being a relative Silverstone expert. I have never been to one of these less formal test days and was wondering if anyone has.

I mean I assume you get to the use the main Silverstone carpark due to relative lack of numbers.

I was going to travel up on the morning, but that means M25 at rush hour :eek:, so I have decided to stay at a travel lodge or some such.


Any thoughts or ideas about this is welcome. :)

[AndyL]

£25 :eek: I remember when these were free! There was unlimited testing then though, and you never knew what teams would turn up to a particular test. Certainly the last time I went, the main car park nearest the gate was open and there was plenty of space. If I recall correctly, there were one or two grandstands open, plus all the general admission areas. It was a good day out I thought, a good chance to see the cars without fighting crowds and traffic. There was no catering open so take your packed lunch and thermos of tea :)
Also a folding chair's handy if you want to sit on the terraces around Luffield, unlike a crowded raceday you'll be able to see from there without standing.

[steveaki13]

Thanks for the reply Andy.

Good ideas. I think only the near side of the circuit is open for these days.

I will see when I get there I suppose.

[steveaki13]

I also have a pitwalk on the Tuesday.

I guess I will get to see the actual pitlane up close, but I imagine all F1 teams will have massive barriers up, so you cannot see a thing.

This is where F1 probably lets itself down compared to some more open motorsports.

[driveace]

Used to go to testing in Valancia when we used to winter down in Spain .It was 5 euros for spectators ,I bullshitted and got a press pass every year ,and have been on pit wall with many drivers .
We go to Florida or Brisbane now for winters ,and there,s no F1 testing there

[steveaki13]

So I am currently in a travel lodge in Northampton just 10 minutes away from Silverstone ready to go and see some F1 testing tomorrow.

Should be interesting.

Typically though its going to rain tomorrow

[steveaki13]

Also just read Jules Bianchi will replace Kimi on Wednesday.

Lining him up for a drive sometime soon?

[Tazio]

So I am currently in a travel lodge in Northampton just 10 minutes away from Silverstone ready....

How much do Hookers, I mean pit babes run there or there abouts? :sailor: :angel:

[Tazio]

Also just read Jules Bianchi will replace Kimi on Wednesday.

Lining him up for a drive sometime soon?That's cold blooded dawg, Kimi is still hurting from his shunt! ;)

[Duncan]

Also just read Jules Bianchi will replace Kimi on Wednesday.

Lining him up for a drive sometime soon?

just saw that. Be really interesting to see his times...

JB has put in some very impressive results given the car he has to work with.

[steveaki13]

Silverstone in-season test, Day One timesheet:
1. Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:35.242, 42 laps
2. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:35.248, 72 laps
3. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:35.573, 90 laps
4. Adrian Sutil, Sauber, 1:35.674, 73 laps
5. Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1:36.148, 108 laps
6. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren, 1:36.148, 71 laps
7. Sergio Perez, Force India, 1:36.583, 79 laps
8. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:36.688, 28 laps
9. Pastor Maldonado, Lotus, 1:37.131, 97 laps
10. Pedro de La Rosa, Ferrari, 1:37.988, 49 laps
11. Will Stevens, Caterham, 1:40.627, 95 laps.

I am back in my motel room now ready for the second day tomorrow.

I watched and took many photo's during the test and then had a pitwalk and got to see alot of the cars up close and personal. Good day.

[steveaki13]

I took about 800 photos of which 300 are OK, and I thought I would post a few. Hope no one in charge minds. :)

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t1.0-9/10527294_829416663735963_4707759019998822810_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/994455_829416693735960_3889961589664767943_n.jpg

[steveaki13]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/10304335_829416583735971_6282418887341772327_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t1.0-9/10320511_829416593735970_3709280570002937600_n.jpg

[steveaki13]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t1.0-9/10382881_829416783735951_7583812766527422863_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/10431454_829417040402592_3035386359932544780_n.jpg

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10306543_829417103735919_7345434064922216859_n.jpg ?oh=acfbad76fae574a6770a4e6cc85a0b72&oe=542802A1

[airshifter]

Great stuff Steve! It looks like it was worth the price for sure. Have you noticed any obvious new aero parts on any of the cars?

I love that shot of the front brakes/hub. Look at all those freaking sensors!

[steveaki13]

Thanks air shifter.

I got home today. To be absolutely honest I did not notice anything major.

One interesting thing I did get to see today, was the first ever run of a new prototype tyre potentially for use in 2017, they look quite different

I have loads of photo's I reckon about 350 all told. Crazy. I will post a couple more that might be of interest.

[steveaki13]

Here are the current tyres being run on the Lotus

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t1.0-9/10547639_829932447017718_1443986135173215819_n.jpg

And here are the new prototype Pirelli's run today for the first time ever.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/1922484_829932173684412_5574738668092253027_n.jpg

[steveaki13]

And here are a few more from my pitwalk

The rear end of a Sauber
https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/10447154_829930847017878_8601156439308407173_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/281854_829931643684465_8829209281659236216_n.jpg

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t1.0-9/10462503_829931170351179_6707092396595952666_n.jpg

This was in the Mercedes garage. Not quite sure what Engine it is.

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/10369105_829930680351228_1145519011531685214_n.jpg

[steveaki13]

And finally for now a couple more, one of my favourites and an interesting testing one.
This one I just liked, shame I was messing about in Black & White at the time.

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/1660519_829931230351173_325650968589636772_n.jpg

Mclaren running an aero sensor plate.
https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10534642_829930573684572_5705270217051422384_n.jpg ?oh=4c52a460c5d9243a07fc861d1a37f8e9&oe=5440AF4A

Ferrari running a rear Aero sensor Plate and something over each side pod.
https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/10547503_829931057017857_3127760303610164559_n.jpg

[steveaki13]

Just found another interesting photo as I trall through.

This is Maldonado with what looks like Inters on the front and slicks on the rears

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10419464_830308596980103_6773562315653803566_n.jpg ?oh=6c63765e987a164cf2bffc7044f8ecef&oe=54407AB8&__gda__=1413575890_c5fbbdb22ca26404982cdcb71fa12ab f

[steveaki13]

I took some film too, Its S*** because its so hard so move a standard camera steady enough, but hey like every other idiot I post it online. :p

I can confirm the engines by normal standards are quite loud in the flesh. You still couldn't talk when one is near. However they are not the spin tingling, buttock clenching, ear burst engines as in the past.

Anyway I will stop spamming you all now. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQX2FTUYXT8