Next up on the FIA FORMULA 1™ World Championship calendar is the race that thousands of British fans have been waiting for – the 2007 FORMULA 1™ Santander British Grand Prix.
There are just six days to go before British drivers Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Anthony Davidson line up on the famous start grid at Silverstone, and by this time next week the nation will hopefully be celebrating a successful weekend for the British quartet at their home race. There are still a handful of grandstand tickets available for this weekend’s British Grand Prix – one of the biggest and most eagerly anticipated British Grand Prix in recent years – and Silverstone is expecting a near sell-out crowd by the weekend.
Thousands of fans will be heading to the Northamptonshire circuit for all three days of this year’s event, and it’s not just the fans who are looking forward to three spectacular days of racing at their home race. All four British drivers are looking forward to Silverstone and the opportunity to race in front of their home crowd this weekend.
Lewis Hamilton, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: “I'm obviously really looking forward to the Silverstone race next weekend as it’s my home race. From my experience at Goodwood recently I know that there will be a lot of support and a fantastic atmosphere, but it’s important that I just focus and work on getting the best result I possibly can. I have always really liked racing at Silverstone and have had some good results there in the past, but to go there for the first time as a Formula 1 driver will be amazing. I hope all the fans will have a great time.”
Jenson Button, Honda Racing F1 Team: “The British Grand Prix is always special for a British driver and obviously we are a Japanese team but based just down the road from Silverstone in Brackley. We took a step forward with the performance of our car at the French Grand Prix this weekend so we are now making progress, and I hope that we can have a good race at Silverstone and be challenging for a point or two.
“I love this high-speed circuit with the very quick changes of direction, and there are great corners like Becketts and Stowe. It’s still a big challenge for F1 drivers today, especially parts like Becketts - it’s a very difficult complex and one that reminds you just how quick a Formula One car is and how special it is to be driving in F1. You can’t help but exit that complex with a big smile on your face. It still gives me and all the other drivers such a great buzz.
“There are some good overtaking possibilities and, because it’s such a high-speed circuit, when they do happen it’s such a big move. Silverstone reminds me of the old days in racing in the 50s and 60s, when you didn’t have any slow corners, even though the last two corners are pretty slow. Silverstone is one of the best circuits in the world and for me it always will be. “The whole weekend at Silverstone is special and you can’t underestimate the boost that a home crowd gives you. This year there are four British drivers to please the fans and that is just fantastic for British motorsport. You don’t perform any differently because that is down to the driver, but you do get a buzz throughout the whole weekend - just driving through the gates every day, seeing all those flags in the grandstand and all the additional events we take part in. It’s such a special feeling in my heart because it’s my home; it’s where I’m from.”
David Coulthard, Red Bull Racing: “There’s something special about Silverstone because of where it sits in the history of the sport, the nature of the track is very high speed and the first half of the lap is incredibly challenging for the drivers. I think Silverstone is right up there with other great tracks in the world, such as Monaco, Spa and Suzuka. It’s one of the places where you stop beforehand, take a breath and think, right, here we go, it’s great. I got two of my thirteen GP wins in Britain and it’s also my home Grand Prix, so it will always be special.”
Anthony Davidson, Super Aguri F1 Team: “I have lived close to Silverstone circuit for seven years and have some good memories there from previous Formulae. I have enjoyed testing there as well, on Fridays in 2004 and last year. It is always good to see so much support from the fans, flying the flags and giving you inspiration. It doesn’t make you go faster, but it is great to see their enthusiasm. I hope that I and the other British drivers can put on a good show for them this year.”
Tickets for the 2007 FORMULA 1™ Santander British Grand Prix are still available. For further information, or to purchase tickets, visit silverstone.co.uk, or call 08704 588 300. Family Tickets can also be purchased for the Friday and Saturday of the three day event.
