For the Silverstone GP circuit there are two independent facilities with pits and paddocks; one is for the National configuration and the other is for the International configuration. When the full GP is utilised, either paddock can be selected.
If I could choose, I would opt for the National paddock as I consider that to be superior in all ways bar prestige:
- it is much closer to the main entrance (by car, less than a minute, rather than more than five);
- it is far larger and so there is no stress when trying to find somewhere to set up for the weekend.
- There is a petrol station within the paddock. International paddock users can access this, but it is an inconvenient journey.
- Camping facilities are less restricted.
Advantages of the International paddock are:
- It is very posh. It’s the Wing, as used by the GP fraternity! I have to admit to feeling special when installed in the garages, even if they have to be shared by an uncomfortably large number of competitors.
- I have been informed that the shower facilities in the Wing are outstanding.
National Paddock
Paddock Entrance
From the security barrier, cross the first bridge that goes over the old Silverstone circuit’s Farm Straight and then take the second exit at the mini roundabout.
Cross the bridge that goes over Wellington Straight and, at the next mini roundabout, take the first exit.
You will arrive at the large National Paddock. From here will be given a walking tour.
Café / Shop / Fuel / Toilets
On entering the paddock and directly ahead in the middle of the paddock area are, from the left, a café, a shop a fuel station and a toilet block. Beyond these facilities, at the far end of the paddock, are the garages.
The café is to the far left (west) is this contiguous set of facilities. Further to the left is another separate small café which is not always open. The larger café, whilst normally open during the day, is liable to close before the end of the on-circuit time. Food is also liable to run out or be past its best.
The shop sells most things that a driver or spectator would want, including race clothing, Silverstone tee-shirts and model cars. For more specialist race products, including the red 3-phase adaptors for plugging into the paddock electricity supplies, there is an outlet just outside of the circuit.
The fuel station is accessible only from the side closest to the entrance and furthest from the garages.
The toilet block includes shower facilities.
Scrutineering / Parc Ferme
Walk between the fuel station and the toilet block, then turn right. Head to the edge of the paddock, which is the east end.
Look towards the north-east corner, and you will see the scrutineering bay. Beyond that is parc ferme.
Walk past the scrutineering bay and, on the left, you will come to a pedestrian tunnel that leads to grandstands and viewing for Copse corner.
Garages / Burger Bar / Admin
Turning back and heading past the scrutineering bay in the right, the garages are to the right, split into two equally-sized blocks. Between the two garage blocks, set into the paddock, is a burger bar that is usually open.
At the end of the garages is the Admin block.
Medical Centre
Walk south from the Admin block, passing the small café on the left. Keep walking to the end and cross the road, continuing in the same direction until the road bears left. The next building you come to is the Medical Centre.
Noise Test / Assembly Area
Immediately after the medical centre (before the mini roundabout), there is a right turn. Turning into here is where the noise test is normally conducted.
Having turned in and bypassed the noise test, continue passed the medical centre, were the road turns right. This is the Assembly Area.
Pits and Circuit Access
Pit Lane – Access from Paddock
The pit lane and garages are at the northern end of the paddock.
For unofficial sessions, such as a test day, access to the pit lane from the paddock area is via western end of the garages, which is to the left as you look at the garages from the paddock. Access is also from between the two garage blocks and at the eastern end, between the end of the garages and Parc Ferme.
Noise Test / Assembly Area
Travelling south from the Admin block and passing the small café on the left, continue straight on, cross the road, bears left. The next building you come to is the Medical Centre. Turn right here for entry into the Assembly Area. At the entrance is where noise testing often takes place.
The Assembly Area itself is a long straight holding area.
The marshals will release competitors onto the circuit at the entry to Brooklands corner. If lining up for the grid, be as cautious as the drivers ahead should be, as there are plenty of marshals on-circuit.
Pit Lane – Circuit Access and Egress
From the pit lane, drive past the garages on the right, staying within the 60kph speed limit. At the end of the garages, obey marshals and the traffic light, only joining the pit lane exit lane when permitted.
On exiting Luffield, stay right, to be clear of the racing line. Raise a hand to indicate that you are pitting and reduce speed as you enter the pit lane. If there are multiple cars behind, be aware that one driver may pull to the right, intending to pass the car in front.
The pit lane entry is reasonably long and can be taken quickly, but you still need to slow to the speed limit, so be careful. You will come to a barrier between the pit entry lane and the circuit. Just after the part of the barrier that is closest to the pit lane stops, is the white line that denotes the start of the 60kph speed limit.
Parc Ferme
From the Pit lane entry, drive to the end of the garage blocks. From there, marshals will guide you into Parc Ferme, which is on the right. Alternatively, they will guide you directly into the paddock, via the access between the garage block and Parc Ferme.
Grid
Luffield is a slow corner, by which time all useful tyre and brake warming should be complete. Time your time approaching Woodcote, as queues will form while marshals wave you towards your correct slot.
Starting Grid – Rear
The final row on a full grid is just after the start of the barrier that separates the circuit from the pit access lane. Where the initial barrier ends and another starts is a good marker, for the last row is around a car-length ahead.
Starting Grid – Front and Starting Lights
There are two garage block covering the pit lane, with a small gap separating the two. The front row is fractionally before the end of the first garage block, with the starting gantry, easily visible over as it crosses the circuit, begins midway between the two blocks.
There are no repeater starting lights.
Official Locations
| Signing On | Race Control Building. Either the ground floor or first floor. Some events could have signing on in the garage closest to Race Control. |
| Race Admin | Race Control Building. First floor. |
| Race Control | Race Control is in its own block right at the east end of the garages. When looking at the garages from the paddock, Race Control is on the left. |
| Clerk of the Course | Race Control Building. Second floor. |
| Timekeeping | Race Control Building. Second floor. |
| Medical Centre | To get here from the paddock, drive to the access road that runs from the paddock to Race Control, passing by the café. From here go south (away from Race Control). The road will bear left and then you will see the Medical Centre on the right. |
Race Locations
| Scrutineering | West of the garages. When looking at the garages from the paddock, scrutineering is to the right. Parc Ferme is also here. |
| Noise Test | Located at the entry to the Assembly Area. To access from the paddock, drive to the access road that runs from the paddock to Race Control, passing by the café. From here go south (away from Race Control). The road will bear left and then you will see the Medical Centre on the right. Immediately after the Medical Centre, turn right for the Assembly Area. This is where noise testing takes place. |
| Assembly Area | Located between the Medical Centre and the race track at the end of Wellington Straight. To access from the paddock, drive to the access road that runs from the paddock to Race Control, passing by the café. From here go south (away from Race Control). The road will bear left and then you will see the Medical Centre on the right. Immediately after the Medical Centre, turn right (where noise testing takes place. This leads into the long Assembly Area. The Assembly Area runs from the Medical Centre up to the Brooklands Grandstand, which overlooks the exit from the Assembly Area to the circuit. A track day alternative to to have direct access to the pit lane from the paddock. Access is usually between the two garage blocks. |
| Parc Ferme | West of the garages, alongside Scrutineering. When looking at the garages from the paddock, Parc Ferme is to the right. To access from the race circuit, enter the pits and drive past both sets of garage blocks. Parc Ferme is just after, on the right. |
| Pit Lane | The pit lane and garages are at the northern end of the paddock. For unofficial sessions, such as a test day, access to the pit lane from the paddock area is via western end of the garages, which is to the left as you look at the garages from the paddock. Access is also from between the two garage blocks and at the eastern end, between the end of the garages and Parc Ferme. Circuit Access From the pit lane, drive past the garages on the right, staying within the 60kph speed limit. Obey marshals and traffic lights before continuing onto the pit exit lane. Circuit Exit On exiting Luffield, stay right, to be clear of the racing line. Raise a hand to indicate that you are pitting and reduce speed as you enter the pit lane. |
| Starting Grid | Rear of Grid The final row on a full grid is just after the start of the barrier that separates the circuit from the pit access lane. Where the initial barrier ends and another starts is a good marker, for the last row is around a car-length ahead. Front of Grid and Starting Lights The front of the grid is directly before the large, difficult to miss, overhead gantry, below which are the starting lights. There are no repeater starting lights. |
International Paddock
Paddock Entrance
From the security barrier, take the immediate right.
This will take you around the outside of the International circuit, in an anticlockwise direction until you come to a bridge that goes over Hangar Straight.
Having crossed the bridge, turn right and go around the inside of the International circuit, in a clockwise direction.
Pass the paddock on the right and, at the mini-roundabout, turn right, into the paddock’s main entrance.
You are now in the International Paddock. From here will be given a walking tour.
Wing / Garages / Admin
Straight ahead of the entrance can be seen the start of the Wing, which is the name given to the building that runs the length of Hamilton Straight. This consists of, at the left end, the administration centre, with to the right of that the garages.
Signing On / Scrutineering / Parc Ferme
The first two or three garages can be assigned administrative and official duties. During test and track days, this area has been used for signing on and admin.
On race weekends is has also been used as a scrutineering bay, whilst cars returning from official timed sessions (qualifying of race) can be directed through the first garage, into a paddock area that has been fenced off and assigned as Parc Ferme.
Admin / Café / Shop / Fuel / Toilets
About a third of the way along the wing is a break in the garages for a set of stairs that leads up to an administrative desk by the entrance to a café.
Also here can be found toilet and shower facilities.
Noise Test / Assembly Area
Continue along the Wing. Towards the end of the paddock, opposite the final entrance into the Wing is an entrance into the paddock. The Assembly Area is to the left and runs to the end of the paddock. Noise testing is usually at the entrance, which is by the paddock entrance.
Medical Centre
This is located in the National Paddock, so I recommend contacting Race Control to ask about First Aid facilities before they are needed.
To locate the Medical Centre, see the National Paddock section and look at notes for Paddock Entrance and Medical Centre.
In summary, having returned to the main entrance, then traversed the bridge that crosses Wellington Straight, take the first exit at the mini-roundabout. As you enter the National paddock, turn left. A short distance later, turn right at the mini-roundabout. The Medical Centre is ahead, on the left.
Pits and Circuit Access
Noise Test / Assembly Area
The Assembly Area is located in the north-east corner of the paddock. Looking from the paddock towards the Wing and garages, it is to the far-right corner of the paddock, across from the Wing and garages.
Noise testing is usually conducted at the entry to the Assembly Area, which is by an entrance into the paddock.
Circuit Access from the Assembly Area
There are two potential routes to the pit lane from the Assembly Area. The marshals will guide you to park in the correct place while you wait for the start of your session, and will again guide all cars, in the correct order, onto the circuit.
The first and shortest route is at the opposite end of the Assembly Area to the entrance. Here, you will turn left, heading towards the end of the Wing, before being guided through a gate that takes you past the end of the wing, where you turn right onto the pit lane exit.
The second, more convoluted route through the Assembly
Area’s entrance. Turn right so that you are in the paddock running alongside
the Wing, to your left. At the end, pass through a gate and turn left, taking
you past the end of the wing, where you turn right onto the pit lane exit.
Circuit Access from the Paddock and Pits
With the Wing on your left, drive to the end of the paddock. At the end, pass through a gate and turn left, taking you past the end of the wing, where you turn right onto the pit lane exit.
From the pit lane, drive past the garages on the right, staying withing the 60kph speed limit. At the end of the garages, obey marshals and the traffic light, only joining the pit lane exit lane when permitted. The pit exit lane turns to the right before joining the circuit opposite the apex of Farm Curve.
Circuit Egress and Parc Ferme
On exiting Stowe, after the long Hangar Straight, raise a hand to indicate that you are pitting and reduce speed as you enter the pit lane.
The pit lane entry is reasonably long and can be taken quickly, passing the entry to Vale. At the end of this straight is a sharp ninety-degree turn into the pit lane.
If at the end of an official session, it is likely that you will be directed right, into one of first garages. Here, you may be stopped for immediate scrutineering, or instructed to drive through the garage into Parc Ferme or the paddock.
Grid
One year, on exiting Stowe during the warm-up lap, I watched an accident unfold right in front of me. Cars ahead had been accelerating and slowing all the way to the grid and this caused a concertina affect on the entry into Vale. It was a huge accident which came, seemingly, from nowhere. Luckily for me, having had a near-miss myself earlier in the lap, I decided to ignore the “stay within five cars” rule as I felt it was too dangerous, otherwise I and those behind would also have been at risk. The driver who was deemed to have caused the accident was always careful and considerate and thankfully nobody was injured. It was, unfortunately, one of those things.
Starting Grid – Rear
Having survived the final Vale and Club complex, the very last place of a full grid is opposite the apex of Club corner.
Starting Grid – Front and Starting Lights
The front of the grid is below a huge gantry that hangs over the whole circuit, from the pit lane.
The starting lights are hanging from below the gantry, in the middle of the track.
There are no repeater starting lights.
Photographic Guide
Paddock to Circuit
Circuit to Paddock
Start Lights
Official Locations
| Signing On | See Race Admin. |
| Race Admin | Straight ahead of the entrance can be seen the start of the Wing, which is the name given to the building that runs the length of Hamilton Straight. The west-most end of the Wing contains the administration centre. The first two or three garages have also been used for admin. |
| Race Control | See Race Admin. |
| Clerk of the Course | See Race Admin. |
| Timekeeping | See Race Admin. |
| Medical Centre | This is located in the National Paddock, so I recommend contacting Race Control to ask about First Aid facilities before they are needed. |
Race Locations
| Scrutineering | The first two or three garages are usually assigned to Scrutineering. |
| Noise Test | With the Wing on the left, travel towards the end of the paddock, opposite the final entrance into the Wing is an entrance into the paddock. The Assembly Area is to the left and runs to the end of the paddock. Noise testing is usually at the entrance, which is by the paddock entrance. |
| Assembly Area | With the Wing on the left, travel towards the end of the paddock, opposite the final entrance into the Wing is an entrance into the paddock. The Assembly Area is to the left and runs to the end of the paddock. Noise testing is usually at the entrance, which is by the paddock entrance. |
| Parc Ferme | Cars returning from official timed sessions (qualifying of race) can be directed, from the pit lane, through the first garage and into a paddock area that has been fenced off and assigned as Parc Ferme. |
| Pit Lane | With the Wing on your left, drive to the end of the paddock. At the end, pass through a gate and turn left, taking you past the end of the wing, where you turn right onto the pit lane exit. |
| Starting Grid | Rear of Grid The very last place of a full grid is opposite the apex of Club corner. Front of Grid and Starting Lights The front of the grid is below a huge gantry that hangs over the whole circuit, from the pit lane. The starting lights are hanging from below the gantry, in the middle of the track. There are no repeater starting lights. |
Page created by Peter Tattersall, February 2022