The British circuit Silverstone has officially opened the new F1 paddock and pit lane facility known as 'The Wing'. The facility was opened by HRH the Duke of Kent and the inaugural ceremony was attended from a significant number of F1 personalities. Among them there were British F1 champions Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Nigel Mansell, BRDC President Damon Hill and Jenson Button but also current F1 driver Mark Webber, team heads Frank Williams, Christian Horner and Ross Brawn plus David Coulthard, BBC anchorman Jake Humphrey, legendary commentator Murray Walker and multiple MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi.
The development is a direct result of a long-term deal to host the British GP that was signed at the end of 2009, following years of disputes with Bernie Ecclestone and an unsuccessful attempt to move the race to Donington.
Undoubtedly, the construction of "The Wing" helped into securing a long-term future of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone which hosted the first ever F1 race in 1950. Silverstone venue now hopes to retain its all-time status on the F1 calendar as the British Grand Prix location, although the establishment of the new 17-year deal in late 2009, was the outcome of long tough disputes with Bernie Ecclestone about the future of British Grand Prix itself and an unsuccessful attempt to move the race to Donington Park.
BRDC chairman Damon Hill has been actively pursuing improvements to the facilities since taking over the position in 2006, and stated that it had been crucial for Silverstone to match the standards set at new tracks such as Abu Dhabi and Shanghai in order to ensure circuit’s future and place on the F1 calendar.
“Today was a very important day in the history of the British Racing Drivers’ Club and Silverstone Circuit. The official opening of the Silverstone Wing represents the culmination of many years hard work and gives a clear statement of intent for the future.
Over the last 60 years, under the stewardship of the BRDC, Silverstone has grown beyond all recognition. Silverstone has a significant historical legacy, but we maintain our place at the forefront of contemporary international motor sport, hosting an array of world class events and activities. This is in no small measure because British competitors have consistently led the way at the highest level of global motor sport for over 80 years.
The BRDC is extremely proud of this new building, but we acknowledge that none of it would have been possible without our superb and exceptional Silverstone team. Silverstone is a cornerstone of our industry and the BRDC will continue to develop the circuit to ensure that Britain has a world-class home for motor sport and related technology... It's very important for everyone we've managed to do this. We've had people putting up palaces around the world, so it's fantastic we've got this facility now and it's kept Britain at the forefront of motor sport around the world."
HRH the Duke of Kent confirmed that "The Wing" will allow Silverstone to establish its place as one of the world's leading circuits.
"This is a tremendous day for Silverstone. I am very confident the Silverstone Wing will not just become the recognisable face of Silverstone, and not just of motor sport in Britain, but the center and pivotal point of world motor sport."
Apart from being the new British Grand Prix base, it is also estimated that "The Wing" could bring additional income to the venue from hosting up to 4,000 people in conference and catering facilities. Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips also stated that the 50,000 seats around the track have been relocated in order to provide a better spectator experience.
The 2010 British Grand Prix winner Mark Webber drove a Red Bull in to the auditorium during the opening ceremony, and said that the BRDC and organisers needed to take credit for providing the development and securing the race's future, as it had a significant history.
"What's important today is to remember that the politics that go on - particularly with Formula One - it's not easy to keep the venue and event here. Bernie [Ecclestone] is pretty tough at times so I think that's a real feather in the guys' caps that they've been able to keep the event here. It's been a very special track for me in the past, a lot of special memories … memories like Nige [Mansell] bringing [Ayrton] Senna back on the car when I was growing up, so it's brilliant."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was equally praising the new facility, and said that it had raised the standards required to be a world-class F1 venue.
"Silverstone is the natural home of grand prix racing in the UK. I remember seeing some fantastic races whilst I was growing up watching Formula One. As a team principal with Red Bull we've been fortunate enough now to win the grand prix for the last two years, and we'd love to make it a hat-trick at the opening of this new facility.
Formula One visits some incredible facilities around the world and Silverstone has always stood out as a drivers circuit and I think that now with the complex and the facility that this new wing provides it really does set the benchmark among the grand prix circuits of having the combination absolutely right."
At 16,500 sq ft, the new F1 paddock and pitstop facility is significantly larger than its predecessor although the construction cost reached £27 million.
Following 2010 track's major expansion and modification, the start/finish straight for the F1 race has now been moved from between Woodcote and Copse to between Club and Abbey corners, but the old Abbey corner is no longer available for use as the previous track configuration has been decommissioned.
Unusually, the pit lane does not run level with the track but it stays flat while the tracks rises, meaning the pit wall is higher than the garages towards the end of the pits and the pit lane exit slopes upwards as the drivers rejoin the track in the revised Abbey and Farm corners.
Jenson Button predicted a lot of action at the start with drivers going through the first two corners flat-out before braking for the next corner:
“Turn three is going to be interesting. The first time through with 24 cars nose-to-tail we’ll get a queue of cars on the inside, and it’s going to be who’s brave enough to go around the outside. You’ll see a lot of action.”
Bernie Ecclestone was not present for the opening, but sent a statement with a tongue-in-cheek punch line about the past decade disputes:
“The new pit and paddock complex is a state-of-the-art facility and will form the backbone of Silverstone’s plans to be a world-class facility of its type. I am delighted with the progress and prospects for the future of Silverstone. It is a great shame that it could not have been completed 10 years ago, but well done Silverstone.”
