“Charlie Whiting was here yesterday and we walked the circuit and we've got our Grade A licence for the next three years,” announced track's managing director Richard Phillips earlier today, during a media event in which the layout was officially unveiled.
While heavily criticized by the president of the British Racing Driver Club (BRDC) Damon Hill – the BRDC are the owners of the circuit – the modifications were agreed upon after negotiating a 17-year extension with Bernie Ecclestone for the F1 race. The Arena layout has therefore been designed due to safety issues (the proximity of the famous bridge at the now-bypassed Bridge corner) and cost the BRDC around 5 million pounds sterling.
As compared to the old circuit, the new one will see both the F1 drivers and the MotoGP riders (as Silverstone will host the British GP in the series from now on, replacing Donington Park) “turn right instead of left at the old Abbey chicane entry before embarking on a section incorporating the old National straight, renamed Wellington.”
Additionally, the Brooklands corner will feature a much faster entry with the new layout, being practically the section where the new layout meets the old circuit.
Also, with the launch of the Arena section, the circuit now sports some new names for the additional stretches like Village, The Loop, Wellington Straight and Aintree.
“We think we have produced a racetrack of the future. It looks like it has the potential to be a real corker,” said Hill, after in February he insisted the new layout may compromise the essence of racing at Silverstone.
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