... of sell out hat-trick
With JUST FOUR WEEKS TO GO until the 2006 FORMULA 1™ Foster’s British Grand Prix (9 to 11 June), Silverstone has confirmed that World Cup fever will rob the event of its very own hat-trick – a third successive sell out. Tickets for the British Grand Prix - one of the biggest and most glamorous events of the British sporting summer - have been selling well, and continue to do so, but circuit bosses have revealed that this year’s event won’t match the sell out crowds of 2004 and 2005.
Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, commented: “With just four weeks to go until the British Grand Prix, ticket sales are slightly behind where we were at this time last year, and that is one hundred percent due to public interest in the football World Cup. The public’s attention has been diverted away from the British Grand Prix, but we’ll still have a huge crowd on 11 June. It’s unlikely the event will sell out, but we’ll be extremely close.”
Phillips also suggested that the change of date for this year’s event, moved forward a month from its traditional July date, has had an effect on ticket sales, “While we’re fully prepared for our biggest event of the year, there are definitely fans and corporate guests out there who will be surprised to hear the British Grand Prix is just four weeks away. We’ve gone to great lengths to communicate the new date, but there are still people who think the Grand Prix is in July.
”If ticket sales soar over the next four weeks the British Grand Prix could, potentially, still be a sell out, which would give us a hat-trick of our own (the 2004 & 2005 British Grand Prix were both sold out). It’s important people know the British Grand Prix does not automatically sell out. The last thing we want is for fans watching at home to spot an empty seat and think, ‘I could have gone to Silverstone, but I thought it was sold out’.”
Silverstone has even made arrangements to ensure fans don’t miss a single kick of England’s opening game of the football World Cup, scheduled to take place on the same day as qualifying for the British Grand Prix. 65,000 fans are expected to head to Silverstone for qualifying on the Saturday (equalling attendance for the Saturday of the 2005 British Grand Prix) and, having cheered on British drivers Jenson Button and David Coulthard through a dramatic hour of qualifying, they will then have an opportunity to roar the England football team on to success in what should be an incredible atmosphere.
The whole match will be shown ‘live’ on three giant screens located in prime locations around the outside of the track, including Pits Straight, Stowe and Abbey. With kick off scheduled for 14:00hrs (BST), the atmosphere promises to be electric, and by 16:30hrs Silverstone will hopefully be celebrating a British and English one-two, for both the nations drivers and footballers. The party won’t end there though. The world’s favourite rock and roll band, Status Quo, will also be entertaining F1 fans at this year’s Grand Prix Party (Sunday 11 June). The hugely popular post-race celebration, FREE to all race day ticket holders, will round off an unforgettable weekend of non-stop action and entertainment.
Attracting a record crowd of more than 18,000 in 2005, this year’s Grand Prix Party will feature a high octane blend of stars, cars and guitars on a spectacular open-air stage in the centre of the circuit. TV broadcaster and motorsport pundit Tony Jardine will once again lead from the front, chatting on stage to a host of high profile personalities from the world of F1. Last year fans were treated to a multitude of guest appearances including, among others, Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli, Christian Klien, Christijan Albers, Honda Racing boss Nick Fry, and F1 greats that included Murray Walker, Sir Jackie Stewart and former British Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert. Tickets for the 2006 FORMULA 1™
Foster’s British Grand Prix are still available, with transferable three day passes priced from as little as £99 (£49 for children*) - effectively £33 per day. Tickets for the 2006 FORMULA 1™ Foster’s British Grand Prix can be booked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at silverstone.co.uk, or by calling the British Grand Prix Hotline on 08704 588 300 * Children aged 12 and under -
