06 July 2012 14:56
After continued heavy rainfall in the UK, particularly around the Midlands, Silverstone Circuit have released the following statement for visitors to this weekend's British Grand Prix.
We are looking forward to a fantastic weekend full of exciting racing and awesome entertainment at the most popular Formula 1 Grand Prix in the world. Despite the recent deluges of rain the track is in great shape for the weekend’s action and has passed the FIA’s inspection with flying colours.
The unprecedented recent wet weather is having an adverse impact on our car parks and on campsites in the area.
Please read the following information carefully. By working together we can ensure everyone will be able to enjoy this year’s event safely and with the minimum amount of disruption.
Each year we invest over £1 million pounds preparing and managing our car parks and traffic. Silverstone has the top traffic management experts in the business on site advising us on our wet weather plans. They have vast experience from other large UK events and festivals.
In the weeks and months running up to this weekend we have taken pre-emptive actions.
We have prepared the site to cope with the weather as best we can. Unfortunately despite our efforts our grass car parks are very wet! There is currently an amber weather warning in force in our region. We may have a significant amount of rainfall in the next 24 hours.
If conditions worsen we may have to park cars bumper to bumper in our hard standing car parks to maximise capacity. If this happens your co-operation will be greatly appreciated. Signage will advise you the time you need to return to your cars to enable everyone to exit with the minimum amount of delay. This is particularly important if you are at the front of a line so we (and your fellow fans) greatly appreciate your co-operation.
We hope we don’t need to implement this but it is preferable to people being stuck in car parks and potential safety risks.
Silverstone Woodlands Campsite will be operating its wet weather plan to ensure that all visitors enjoy their stay and the event safely.
You will be asked to park your car in a specified area and walk to your camping pitch. We appreciate this is inconvenient. Your cooperation in helping us to avoid serious accidents, for example vehicles slipping and driving over tents, is much appreciated.
Cars and tents are currently accessing the site and setting up without any problems, however, caravans and motorhomes are taking slightly longer to site, due to the wet ground. We ask fans to remain patient.
Please wear appropriate footwear (ones you don’t mind getting muddy) – we have done a lot of work to improve the walking surfaces at the circuit but many of the grassed areas will be wet and muddy. Silverstone is a large site and we can sometimes have different weather conditions at one end of the circuit to the other! So whilst we are strongly recommending you bring your waterproofs you may still need your sun cream, glasses and hats as well.
We are consulting with Formula One Management who are cooperating with us on our plans.
We look forward to seeing you soon. We’re sure by working together this year’s Formula 1 Santander Grand Prix will be a fantastic and memorable event!