As you drive under the “welcome to Silverstone” bridge heading towards the now redundant bridge corner, you catch sight of a stunning new building. At first you would think you’ve taken the wrong turn or ended up in London or something, but no, this is “new Silverstone”.
The new pit complex has completely changed the landscape of this once disused airfield and finally Silverstone is bang up to date and competing with the best circuits in the world and quite possible the best facility in Europe. The huge expanse of glass with the simple word of Silverstone written on once again confirms you’re in the right place and this is when the hairs start to stand up.
From this point on our experiences may change as I first attended “new Silverstone” for the FIA GT1 World Championship as a motorsport Journalist, so I based myself within the new Media Centre. I have to say what an impressive facility, banks of flat screen TV’s suspended from the sealing displaying timing screens and the live TV pictures.
I don’t really want to say anything bad but unfortunately on this occasion I was slightly disappointed by one thing, from the media centre there was no viewing of the circuit direct from where I was sat, making my day reliant on commentary and TV pictures. You could however get a view if you were to leave the media centre but this means leaving the timing screens which are a god send for GT races. When you look at the outside of “the wing” you see it lined with windows but unfortunately the reality within is something quite different as regards viewing.
That is my only negative for now as I can see things are still a work in progress and I’m sure all the temporary grandstands will soon be replaced with permanent structures sooner rather than later. I have read the managers of the circuit are thinking about the fans too, creating raised mounds enabling multi corner viewing areas a weakness from the old Silverstone.
I’m really looking forward to the next chapter in Silverstone’s history and I highly recommend checking it out whenever you have a chance.  The Northamptonshire circuit is here to stay so thank you Bernie (for one thing at least)  for giving the BRDC the chance to bring England and us (the fans) an amazing facility.

James Foster
Follow me on twitter @jimmyb_84