Silverstone, Britain’s mecca of international motorsport, hosts the opening round of the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship this coming weekend and it’s guaranteed to be a festival of racing and entertainment for fans on and off the track. There is a free open paddock, free pit walk on Sunday, free grandstand seating and free entertainment – something for everyone!
World Champions Audi will reprise their head-to-head fight with Toyota for endurance supremacy, LMP2 will no doubt continue to have everyone on their edge of their seats with the close racing and tactics, while LMGTE’s Aston Martins, Ferraris and Porsches will between them thrill and enthral spectators and fans with some of the best racing in the world.
Who, what, where…
In addition to the 6 Hours of Silverstone which starts at 12 noon on Sunday, this weekend will see the first round of the rejuvenated European Le Mans Series, the 3 Hours of Silverstone on Saturday at 3:00 pm, and the first three rounds of the FIA F3 European Championship. The FIA WEC teams will be based in the pits and paddock of the Silverstone Wing, while ELMS participants will work out of the original pits and paddock below the Jimmy Brown Centre. European F3 teams will work under awnings in the area close to the ELMS paddock.
Before they start…
Administrative and technical checks for the teams began from 8:30 am on Thursday (all timings are local) and from 10:00 am for the drivers. Being the first meeting of the year of the championship participants, these checks are important from both sides to ensure that the paperwork and equipment is in order and the cars conform to the 2013 regulations. Drivers’ and team managers’ briefings will also take place on Friday morning and these are all the more important as the series welcomes new teams and drivers.
Also on Friday, at 11:50 am, will be the arrival of the magnificent and prestigious RAC Tourist Trophy which will be presented to the overall winner of the 6 Hours of Silverstone at 6:00 pm on Sunday.
Practice and qualifying…
The first track action will be on Friday morning at 9:00 am when the 25 ELMS competitors enjoy a one-hour free practice session, followed at 12:25 pm by the 31 FIA WEC competitors present at Silverstone. Before practice, all the drivers within the WEC will be assembled for a pre-season group photograph on the steps of The Wing – a great opportunity for fans to see their heroes up close.
The WEC field will benefit from two 90-minute sessions on Friday and a third one-hour practice from 9:00 am before qualifying – the first time that everyone will be on track together as not all were able to attend the pre-season Le Castellet test.
While all the classes are brought together during free practice, this isn’t the case for qualifying and the LMGTE Pro and Am class cars will lead the way for a 20-minute session from 12:10-12:30 pm while the LMP1 and LMP2 cars will follow on from 12:40-1:00 pm. Remember that qualifying rules have changed this year and twodrivers from each crew must set at least two timed laps during qualifying. The average of the four best lap times (the best two of each driver) will serve as the reference time for establishing the grid.
Click here for the full timetable.
Fan friendly WEC…
During the Sunday morning break when no track action is allowed, spectators will be able to freely observe the length and breadth of the pit lane during the pit-walk which is from 10:00-10:45 am. At the same time, a 30-minute autograph session will take place in the paddock when all the drivers will be on hand to welcome their fans.
Constant on-track entertainment…
Even while the WEC cars are off track, there will be a constant programme of entertainment from the ELMS and FIA F3 European Championship. The ELMS will hold its own autograph session and grid walk on Saturday, prior to its 3-hour race, while the F3 cars will be racing twice on Saturday and for a third and final time on Sunday morning from 9:15-9:50 am. Come rain or shine – and good weather is forecast for the weekend – there will be plenty of action to see and enjoy.
Family fun at Silverstone…
Take your pick, race fans, from a host of activities aimed at amusing and entertaining the whole family! There will be Racing Bugs (remote control cars) for the budding [Allan] McNish, [Anthony] Davidson and [Darren] Turners of the world, bungee trampolines and Zorbing Balls for the younger, adventurous types. Dodgems, Segways, and a Top Gear simulator are available for those who like their entertainment on the move or, for those who don’t, there’s a caricaturist for that extra-special Silverstone memory.
All the above can be found in the main Entertainment arena just opposite the paddock at Stowe, alongside breath-taking displays from the Animal Action Sports Tour bike display. Last, but by no means least, there will be a Red Devil parachute display on Sunday morning to thrill and delight the crowds.
You can’t afford to miss any of it!!
Fiona Miller
