Long time no post

Ok so I know the whole point of blogging is an online diary update on a subject, however, I've been a little busy.

The building is not far off being finished and I'll get some up to date photos asap.

We've been busy trying to land a few new projects, all exciting ones, which we hope to announce soon.

As well as normal work I'm back in the BTCC this season so that has kept me busy with a few test days and the first race this weekend.

On top of all that my wife and I have just had our 3rd baby!!!

I hope to be up on site soon so I'll give you an update. I was at Silverstone for the BTCC media day last week but I didn't get down to the building. Up on the north part of the track the FIM have been busy requesting new kerbs and removing grass verge at Woodcote.

Well a lot has happened since my last post. I'm now back Race Engineering in the BTCC and I've got a new article on the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12499373

F1 Testing

Hey folks, well the season is drawing closer, and the excitement is building. Kubica has had a serious accident whilst rallying, but as a circuit designer, what do I think? Well, to be honest, armco / guardrail has always scared me. Armco is the cheap option but as a designer I always try to present the driver with a radius, rather than a blunt end hidden by tyres, but I would prefer concrete, however, this is expensive..... what can be done? I'll have a think and put my ideas forward.

By the way I have some great ideas about F1 and overtaking! I've got it sussed from a circuit design point of view!!!!

Well it's been a while but here are some more up to date images of Silverstone. As you can see the new Pit Building is coming along very nicely and is on target for handover on 6th May.


View from Abbey

In the meantime here are a few more images including one taken from the roof. I'm sure you'll agree the views are spectacular and it looks like FOM will use this for the Grand Prix.


View from Roof


Track view at dusk


Back down the pitlane


The 'Wing' end plate


Back of Race Control


View of Podium

The building is progressing nicely

It's been a while but here some updates for you all.

The First GP on the New Circuit

Well, it's all happened. We've had the first British GP on the new circuit. Mark Webber will go down in the history books as winning the first GP on the new circuit configuration.

Here's a thing though, the new layout was designed for MotoGP and F1, the one thing everyone is forgetting is that, it was designed to work best of all with next year's starting grid. Imagine the first lap, two corners flat out two abrest, much like Copse, Maggotts, Becketts, is now. except next year you go from 185mph 2 abrest down to 80mph 2 abrest at Village and the Loop, it will be overtaking and argy bargy central.......

Anyway a few quick pics from the weekend.

Further to my last post, have a look at this:

Me talking at the Forum - courtesy of Andrew Ferraro - LAT photo


Last Thursday I was fortunate to be invited by James Allen to the F1 Fans Forum in Piccadilly London. Present were, Martin Whitmarsh, FOTA chairman and team principal of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and featured Tony Fernandes, team principal of Lotus Racing, Jock Clear, Senior Race Engineer, Mercedes GP Petronas F1 team, Luca Colajanni, Head of Motorsport Press Office, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro and Paul di Resta test and reserve driver, Force India F1 team.

The afternoon was extremely well put together by James and very informative. I think everyone there wishes they could have asked such an amazing panel at least one question, with the way us petrol heads are we could have talked all night, but with the time limit James had picked a great mix of diverse questions and broke the 90 minute session down into six 'chapters': The fan experience, Overtaking, The third car, 2013 engine regulations, New teams and how they're getting on, and finally Is F1 challenging enough for new drivers.

With British GP approaching next weekend James finished off the afternoon by discussing prospects for next weekend. James showed Martin Brundle's lap of the new circuit recorded at the April launch and then he introduced me as the architect of the new circuit and invited me to say a few words. I must say I am greatly honoured to not only speak at such an auspicious event, but also to have the opportunity to re-design and hopefully improve (next weekend depending) such an historic motor racing circuit.

Well with a few days to go until we find out if the reception is as good for F1 as it was for MotoGP I shall try and make a regular update. I'll be there on Friday to get the first response from anyone I can get my hands on, or indeed be introduced to.

MotoGP at Silverstone and Building Progress

THE NEW PIT AND PADDOCK COMPLEX

FIRST LAP AROUND THE NEW VILLAGE CORNER

Silverstone Circuit Launch - 29th April 2010

Well some 6 months or so after work on site started an F1 car, albeit a couple of years old, and two production bikes have taken to the circuit. The car driven by one of my F1 heros, David Coulthard, and the bikes by Father and Son duo, Ron and Leon Haslam. I didn't have the chance to chat to DC but could I say Ron and Leon are so approachable and chatty and full of positive comments about the circuit. No they didn't know I had designed it, when they did though, well Leon invited me for a pillion ride, urmmmm Well he is leading the World Superbike Championship so maybe.

Here are some pics that I took, there are some better ones on the Silverstone photo stream on Flickr but hey...

A winter of building

Here are some additional photos of how things changed over the winter to the point we're at now.

New Silverstone circuit layout nearly there....

Hi All,

Here's a glimpse of the new circuit layout. Looks like Abbey will be a great place to view from.

New pitwall is in too.

Will this view be different in the near future?

This was the view from Stowe at the 2009 British Grand Prix. As already seen in the press the new Pit and Paddock may well occupy this view in the not to distant future.