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Just purchased tickets for Suzuka! I've been a fan since I first saw a ferrari car in 1985 but have never been to a race. I'm sooooooooooooooooooo excited!!!

I have a hotel reserved in Nagoya. Any other suggestions from anyone?

Me and some mates thinking about going to Spa, we cant really afford gold tickets though. Anybody here got advice on if silver tickets are any good and if so which grandstand?

I also was looking at Bronze tickets we the best price, we really arent bothered about getting a super view and stuff since we mainly wanna go for the fun of it, is bronze allocated seating or do you just find yourself a spot on the hillside wherever you like? Whats the rules of Bronze can you like bring your own beer and is there any decent spots nearby to set up camp with others going to the F1?

Any advice is quality since we've not been to spa before

Turns out I won 'Star Letter' in F1 Racing mag this month and won 2 tickets to the British GP!

I've been twice before (2012 weekend and 2013 Young Driver's Test) so already know the best spots - if anyone needs any assistance please feel free to ask.

3-day general admission tickets are £175 a pop - it's so much better when they're free!

where would you recommend for sunday then, preferably somewhere were it's not just the cars leathering past! We'll get there about 8am, which i think is quite early (we had grandstand tickets last couple of years and there seemed to be loads of GA room at this time).

Also, I'm considering going on Friday (bought the weekend GA admission ticket as it was on offer at £120 this week). Is there much to do / is it worth going?

cheers

jonnymcr wrote:where would you recommend for sunday then, preferably somewhere were it's not just the cars leathering past! We'll get there about 8am, which i think is quite early (we had grandstand tickets last couple of years and there seemed to be loads of GA room at this time).

Also, I'm considering going on Friday (bought the weekend GA admission ticket as it was on offer at £120 this week). Is there much to do / is it worth going?

cheers

Well I had grandstand seats on the pit straight (in 2012) just to watch the start. After that it got pretty boring.

I'm settling down at Stowe for the race, there's be some guaranteed action there! I'd like to sit at Luffield leading on to Woodcote but I know it'll be rammed. Unless you get your slot early of course! I want to be near the podium though, so Stowe is my choice.

If you can, make sure to check out Copse and Maggotts/Becketts during Friday or Saturday - the commitment through there beggars belief.

Hope this helps, I've got some vids from the race and the YDT I'm yet to upload on to YT (been meaning to for a couple of years!) so let me know if you'd like to see them and I'll get round to it.

Anyone been to Le Mans? I'm considering it this year. I'm predicting a (if dry) fantastic day full of unexpected activities, a night full of cans (the alcoholic kind), wearing several layers, having a sleeping bag nearby if required and just a big extended party carrying on into Sunday afternoon

Can anyone confirm if that's accurate enough?

Very excited to say, my Canadian Grand Prix tickets arrived! Can't wait to get there for the weekend.

I know on Thursday Montreal does and "open house" which lets you have access to the pit lane as the teams are setting up... There is also a Drivers Autograph session, does any one know where this usually happens? Is it a que up for your driver signature session or they walk down a lime of a crowd of people?

How does this usually work? I need to know so I'm prepared

Is Silverstone doing the Thursday pit lane walk this year?

Hi,

I am attending the British GP this weekend and its my first GP weekend!

I am getting the park and ride in and out.

Just wondering if you guys had any tips or good things to do during the weekend?

Thanks!

My advice would be that you should've gone camping! Going to The Petrol Head (if it's still there) and drinking/chatting to other fans in the campsite was one of the highlights of the weekend for me!

Take a toilet roll or wetwipes!!!!!!

Suncream, especially with the way the weather is going to be. So easy to burn there.

Splash out £60 and get helicoptered in.


big show to the wife, and she may want to go to another

I'm setting off from Swansea at 5am on Friday, can't wait!

I haven't been since the 2012 race (also went to the YDT in 2013) and the weather that weekend was shocking... fingers crossed I'll be getting the sun cream out this time!

I'm simply looking forward to the atmosphere when FP1 starts, a nice walk around the circuit to see what the best vantage point will be for the race. In 2012 I had grandstand seats for the start/finish straight and I have to admit it was pretty boring.

Has anyone managed to bag tickets for the pit walk tomorrow? As I won my 3 day tickets I wasn't able to apply, but can't wait to walk the track after the race!

When it's sunny, it's t-shirt weather on the ground, but if you have a grandstand ticket, I found previously that you get a hell of a lot of wind chill.

Whatever precautions you need for being in the sun.

Money. I'd bring enough with me but I'm cheap and hate paying £1.99 to take money out at these places. Everything is rather expensive, in typical festival style.

Toilet queues can be a bit of a pain, if you are needing to go, I'd leave the session a few minutes early. However, Silverstone's facilities are really rather good and the men's queue always moves rather quickly.

Everyone is pretty friendly I've always found. If you are at a bar, or go to the evening entertainment at the campsites etc then strike up a conversation if it suits. My first trip in 2011, at the campsite we had drinks with the couple to the left, the two girls behind and a guy who was there with his dad who wanted to stay up for a few drinks. Great fun to get to meet some folks, chat about F1 or anything else that took the conversation.

How bad is the traffic into Silverstone on GP Sunday morning?

I'm hoping to get there for 8am latest as I want to see the support races.

The journey would normally take me 2 hours, would an extra hour be enough to account for traffic or is it best to give an extra 2?

Thanks in advance. First GP and I can't wait!

FormulaFun wrote:Me and some mates thinking about going to Spa, we cant really afford gold tickets though. Anybody here got advice on if silver tickets are any good and if so which grandstand?

I also was looking at Bronze tickets we the best price, we really arent bothered about getting a super view and stuff since we mainly wanna go for the fun of it, is bronze allocated seating or do you just find yourself a spot on the hillside wherever you like? Whats the rules of Bronze can you like bring your own beer and is there any decent spots nearby to set up camp with others going to the F1?

Any advice is quality since we've not been to spa before

I think bronze is just general admission. Couple of good places are the hill next to Pouhon and in the trees above bus stop. For camping check out campingf1.com

General admission areas get very busy on the Sunday so get there early

Anyone been to the Hungarian GP before? I'm going next week, wondering what's good and what's not so good

I am baffled at why these F1 races are selling out at £600 when over here we can't get a stock car race to sell out at $25!

Hi guys,

quick question... is anyone else planning on using the Eurotunnel from the UK to get to the GP this year?

I am planning on doing this with some friends in a camper van... but getting a bit concerned now with "Operation Stack" and all the migrant problems!

What are peoples thoughts?

Stack has been round for about 15 years now so its a pretty smooth operaton. You'll just be sent down the A20 or M2/A2 to Dover, and then across to Folkstone. Just leave a bit more more time and check the various websites. Or book a ferry and hope they are not having one of their regular strikes.
Heres the various links (at the bottom of the page) if you haven't already got them.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/breaking-news

Thanks mate!

Tickets already booked and paid for so def going via the tunnel, but was just a little unsure about the impact of all the goings on!

It's gonna be a real early start on the Thursday I reckon!!!

I have been a few times to the Belguim GP, and apart from once, it has always been via the the Hull to Zeebrugge Ferry. Me and Dad did to the tunnel once... and we both vowed never again! Even on a good day its a nightmare, never mind with the all the other problems.

Make sure you leave plenty of time (like really early moring, like 3am type thing) if you are going to use the Tunnel. The queues around that area are mind boggling, and thats just on a good day. When we went that route (about 5 years ago) it took us over 17 hours to get from where we were to the GP.

The Zeebrugge ferry was not much more expensive, took not much longer and was a lot less stressful. Hull is also a lot easier to get to from most places than Dover/Folkstone. So if you plan to go again in the future, I really recommend this as the alternative. Hopefully next year will be able to go out again to that GP.

Saz, I'm surprised by your problems with the Tunnel; over the past few years I've made regular trips by car to London and the only troubles I've had was one delay due to a technical problem in the tunnel (2 hours I believe), and getting caught in longer queues than expected on the M25. During the regular summer holiday periods, it may be another matter. But I don't think late August should be particularly bad, should it?

Although I like to fly to London, the fares on the Tunnel for a 2-day trip can't be beaten, I feel. I just had a look at the Zeebrugge to Hull service and will now go to see my doctor...

Shoot, thanks for that info, I start planning my next trip early next week!

The tunnel was mostly an accumulation of all the other troubles. To get to London, I have the joy of the A14 (every day a lorry falls off this road, causing hours of tail backs, and its currently full of roadworks) the M1 (same again) and then the M25 (worlds biggest car park). And then if you carry onto dover, the M2 which can be a nightmare if a accident happens in the wrong place.

I drove to London once from Cambridge, and have since vowed to never, ever do that again. Nowadays, if I need to go to London I train in. But since we needed the car in Belguim, so we ferried over. I also found that booking quite a few months in advance really helps. But admittedly I haven't been to Belgium via Ferry in about 7 years, so maybe the prices have gotten pretty bad.

From memory (we are in a campervan) the cost of the ferry from Hull was something like £400 ish or in that region which seemed very expensive! Coupled with the fact that the crossing time was really long (overnight)

We are travelling from Sheffield, so it would have made more logistical sense to go from Hull, but with the Eurotunnel fare being around £100 it made a significant reduction in the cost of going. We booked a crossing at 14:10 on the Thursday hoping to get to the circuit late and pitch up. Not really too bothered how late... as long as we can attend practice Friday morning!

We had intended to set off at 07:00 on the Thursday to give us around 7 hours to get to Folkstone... but I'm thinking that perhaps an "early hours" departure may be required

SILVAF0XX wrote:From memory (we are in a campervan) the cost of the ferry from Hull was something like £400 ish or in that region which seemed very expensive! Coupled with the fact that the crossing time was really long (overnight)

We are travelling from Sheffield, so it would have made more logistical sense to go from Hull, but with the Eurotunnel fare being around £100 it made a significant reduction in the cost of going. We booked a crossing at 14:10 on the Thursday hoping to get to the circuit late and pitch up. Not really too bothered how late... as long as we can attend practice Friday morning!

We had intended to set off at 07:00 on the Thursday to give us around 7 hours to get to Folkstone... but I'm thinking that perhaps an "early hours" departure may be required

My big tip for travelling is stay off the road at peak hours (7-10ish in the morning) because you will get caught in all the commuter traffic which especially around London and the M25 is an absolute nightmare. I would aim to be there long before your crossing (about 10-12ish at folkstone) because its less stressful waiting around to meet a time, rather than panicking because someone fell off the M25 again and worrying if you'll make your train. Just... yeah just avoid motorways at peak morning times, unless you like sitting in queues doing 10mph. I prefer sitting at the far end in a cafe or something drinking coffee than stuck in a car.

Saz wrote:

SILVAF0XX wrote:From memory (we are in a campervan) the cost of the ferry from Hull was something like £400 ish or in that region which seemed very expensive! Coupled with the fact that the crossing time was really long (overnight)

We are travelling from Sheffield, so it would have made more logistical sense to go from Hull, but with the Eurotunnel fare being around £100 it made a significant reduction in the cost of going. We booked a crossing at 14:10 on the Thursday hoping to get to the circuit late and pitch up. Not really too bothered how late... as long as we can attend practice Friday morning!

We had intended to set off at 07:00 on the Thursday to give us around 7 hours to get to Folkstone... but I'm thinking that perhaps an "early hours" departure may be required

My big tip for travelling is stay off the road at peak hours (7-10ish in the morning) because you will get caught in all the commuter traffic which especially around London and the M25 is an absolute nightmare. I would aim to be there long before your crossing (about 10-12ish at folkstone) because its less stressful waiting around to meet a time, rather than panicking because someone fell off the M25 again and worrying if you'll make your train. Just... yeah just avoid motorways at peak morning times, unless you like sitting in queues doing 10mph. I prefer sitting at the far end in a cafe or something drinking coffee than stuck in a car.

Good advice.... think setting off in the early hours will be needed. I do think we will hit some commuter traffic, but as long as we are well ahead of schedule it should be ok I guess!

I must have used the Chunnel 15 plus times and never had a problem. Quick, efficient and hassle free every time.

Asphalt_World wrote:I must have used the Chunnel 15 plus times and never had a problem. Quick, efficient and hassle free every time.

Even with the current problems though??

Yes. Recent trip to Paris. I'm not saying the current problems won't cause hassle, but if lots of people are abandoning the tunnel, then ferry trips will be over subscribed.

In fact, I'm currently house sitting at my sister in laws who crossed in the tunnel on Tuesday without delay.

Cheers for that info... good to know!

Will still allow extra time though just to be safe!

Asphalt_World wrote:Yes. Recent trip to Paris. I'm not saying the current problems won't cause hassle, but if lots of people are abandoning the tunnel, then ferry trips will be over subscribed.

And don't forget about the industrial action in the French ports.

SILVAF0XX wrote:Cheers for that info... good to know!

Will still allow extra time though just to be safe!

Very wise. Best of luck.

Hi All,

I'm planning a trip to Hockenheim next year. I'm just wondering if any of you have been or have any advice about where to sit?
I'm thinking of the Inner Stands A, B or C for a good view of the infield section but am open to suggestions from you guys.
Also, do they do the Thursday Pit Walk at Hockenheim, I know I was able to do it at Monza previously.

I am going to attend the Belgian GP after two weeks. Can someone tell me if it is somehow possible to get hold of drivers for an autograph or a pic other than Thursday's autograph session? I am not sure I will be able to make it on Thursday, and I have a 3 day pass. Is it possible to meet drivers on Friday or Saturday somewhere near the circuit?

bassel7 wrote:I am going to attend the Belgian GP after two weeks. Can someone tell me if it is somehow possible to get hold of drivers for an autograph or a pic other than Thursday's autograph session? I am not sure I will be able to make it on Thursday, and I have a 3 day pass. Is it possible to meet drivers on Friday or Saturday somewhere near the circuit?

Anyone?

bassel7 wrote:

bassel7 wrote:I am going to attend the Belgian GP after two weeks. Can someone tell me if it is somehow possible to get hold of drivers for an autograph or a pic other than Thursday's autograph session? I am not sure I will be able to make it on Thursday, and I have a 3 day pass. Is it possible to meet drivers on Friday or Saturday somewhere near the circuit?

Anyone?

Not unless you're on Bernie's VIP list or you are incredibly lucky. The security around an F1 paddock is better than that around Buckingham Palace.

Asphalt_World wrote:

bassel7 wrote:

bassel7 wrote:I am going to attend the Belgian GP after two weeks. Can someone tell me if it is somehow possible to get hold of drivers for an autograph or a pic other than Thursday's autograph session? I am not sure I will be able to make it on Thursday, and I have a 3 day pass. Is it possible to meet drivers on Friday or Saturday somewhere near the circuit?

Anyone?

Not unless you're on Bernie's VIP list or you are incredibly lucky. The security around an F1 paddock is better than that around Buckingham Palace.

Ah fair enough then. Let's hope I make it Thursday.