British Grand Prix promoters, Octagon Motorsports Limited, today (Monday) announced a revised Masterplan for Silverstone circuit, to be completed prior to the 2002 Formula One event.
Following an extensive programme of monitoring both traffic flow and car parking during the successful 2001 event, further significant improvements are planned to provide the best possible level of accessibility at Silverstone.
The joint Masterplan between Octagon Motorsports, the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) and Bernie Ecclestone – launched in June 2001 and involving a combined investment of $60 million US dollars – has been revised to allow greater emphasis on both access and parking, as well as providing additional facilities for the public.
Works to be completed ahead of the 2002 British Grand Prix will incur costs of £10.6 million and will complete Phase 1 of the Masterplan. These include:
1. The existing two lanes of the Dadford Road will be supplemented by the construction of two new additional lanes. These will run in parallel with the existing Dadford Road, thus creating a total of four lanes connecting the new Silverstone bypass (currently under construction) with a new main entrance and adjacent new car parking areas.
2. Access improvements will be enhanced and supplemented by a major new entrance to Silverstone Circuit.
3. Additional car parking areas will be provided adjacent to the new entrance and will be able to accommodate approximately 15,000 cars in close proximity to the circuit.
4. The new road system will ensure that, for the first time, an effective park and ride system can operate at Silverstone along priority routes.
5. Further development is planned for internal access and circulation with improvements to the perimeter road.
6. Traffic management of the new dual carriageway and surrounding roads at major race meetings will permit tidal flow operation during entry and exit periods, with up to 3 lanes available on each carriageway. There is provision for a controlled emergency route when this is required.
7. The new confidence of Silverstone will be underlined by a major planting scheme which will create a tree-lined boulevard as the new approach to the circuit.
Rob Bain, Chief Executive of Octagon Motorsports, said: ‘The £10.6 million investment, is already well under way and we have always placed emphasis on improving facilities for public access to Silverstone.
‘Since we announced our plans ahead of this year’s Grand Prix, all parties have agreed to revise the Masterplan, so as to give greater emphasis to the substantial improvements relating to both access and parking. We are determined to ensure that the investment pledged by all parties will secure Silverstone’s future within international motorsport.’
Contact:
Maria Bellanca,
Octagon Motorsports
Tel: +44 1474 872331
Fax: +44 1474 874766