Go Mark Webber!
On the front row of the British Grand Prix tonight.
Bigger than Black Caviar!
Setting my alarm clock for this one!

KD

Mark Webber official website:

http://www.markwebber.com/

British Grand Prix 2012: organisers upbeat even though rain chaos may cost £4m

After fears on Friday that this year’s British Grand Prix might be a literal and metaphorical washout, a more encouraging forecast from Silverstone on Saturday night: “We’re back on an even keel.”







Upbeat: officials say Silverstone race day will be 'challenging' Photo: GETTY IMAGES







By Tom Cary

8:40PM BST 07 Jul 2012

11 Comments





Perhaps not in terms of its public image, though. And certainly not in terms of finances. The chaotic scenes of Friday, which saw thousands of race fans stuck in all-day traffic jams on the A43 as car parks and campsites groaned under the deluge of rainwater, was estimated in some quarters yesterday to have cost Silverstone, or at least its insurers, £4million.


The exact figure will not be known for some time, with no official count as yet of how many fans failed to get in on Friday, or how many had heeded the organisers’ advice to stay away.


But at least in terms of this weekend, Silverstone was breathing a tentative sigh of relief, with managing director Richard Phillips claiming the unprecedented decision to ask 30,000 ticket holders to stay at home during qualifying, in order to allow public car parks time to drain, had paid off.


Silverstone was back encouraging all valid ticket holders to pack their wellies and their brollies and brave the elements. Somewhere in the region of 125,000 people are expected to do so.


Phillips, who had looked suicidal as the situation spiralled out of control on Friday, was in much better spirits. “We had to make a really difficult decision yesterday, which was upsetting, but today has been a much better day,” he said. “A remarkable number of people got here somehow. I’m not quite sure how but they did.



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“We’re very grateful to the people who did stay at home. This has given us some breathing space and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.

“Another day like yesterday would have killed the staff apart from anything else. They would probably have deserted us.

“Sometimes these things are on a bit of a knife edge but we’re back on an even keel now. It will still be challenging. Some people might have to walk a bit further but come early and wear reasonable footwear.”

Whether his optimism is misguided remains to be seen. Phillips said that the latest weather forecast was for a dry night with the rain resuming at 7am. That is two hours after car parks open and one hour after the gates open. Needless to say, Silverstone is encouraging fans to set off early.

“The grass car parks aren’t in great shape, there’s no denying that,” Phillips said, “but we’ve also been able to pull in a few provisions. There’s a bit more Park and Ride tomorrow and we’ve got some more buses.

“We’re hoping people come early. We’d like lift-sharing. If you’ve got a bike, come on that. 4x4s are very welcome, horses, pack animals.”

It was good to see him making light of the drama. Phillips and his team have copped some fearful criticism over the last 24hrs, much of it justified. While it is true that the weather has been horrendous, and far worse than forecast, it was not beyond the realms of possibility that car parks and campsites might flood.

The bald facts are that the whole infrastructure, Silverstone’s best laid contingency plans, fell to pieces under the strain. Lessons must be learned. As BRDC chairman Neil England said on Friday night, to let it happen again would be “criminal”.

The race remains afloat but the reputation of Silverstone, so carefully burnished over the last two years, has once again been severely bruised. Disgruntled fans had bombarded radio phone-ins and websites yesterday to express their dismay at the way the situation developed, although those inside the circuit yesterday seemed largely content to put a brave face on it.

“They have been fantastic,” Phillips said. “Fans in the UK amaze me actually. It is quite humbling having them around. They’re just brilliant.”

Phillips was similarly grateful to Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone whose decision to offer sympathy rather than criticism was by far the biggest surprise of the day. Ecclestone was famously furious at the height of the fiasco 12 years ago, labelling the British Grand Prix at Silverstone a “country fair masquerading as a world-class event”.

The 81-year-old’s views have mellowed in recent years, thanks in no small part to the circuit owners’ decision to pump £40million into giving the place a facelift.

"I'm really, really upset for the fans, but in reality if it was you running the race what would you do?" Ecclestone said. "They couldn't predict the rain. From what I hear there are a lot of camping sites that shouldn't be there that let people park. Because they were under water, the people arrived that had paid to park, drove around and that's what caused all the trouble with the traffic jams.

"Honestly I don't think anyone expected the amount of rain we had. You might as well say ‘why didn't the councils in all these different places throughout England do something?’ because I looked on the TV and saw places flooded, houses flooded, shops flooded, people abandoning cars. I didn't expect to see that either."

Phillips was clearly appreciative that Ecclestone, for so long the enemy, had saved Silverstone the humiliation of another public dressing down. “Things have changed haven’t they?” he smiled. “[Bernie] has been very good to us for the last couple of years really, since we’ve built the Wing [Silverstone’s new pits and paddock complex].”

Crisis averted then? We’ll see. Phillips claimed not to know with whom the event was insured or whether the losses could be recovered. “Now is not the time to be counting pounds, shillings and pence,” he chided, adding that claim forms will be sent out early next week.

He was more concerned with the latest weather forecast. “I think it’s going to be dry from now until probably 7am,” he said peering out of the window overlooking the start-finish straight. “The latest forecast I’ve seen is for the odd shower. The race itself might be wet. Who knows? This is Britain."

Starting 2nd? I predict his usually crap start and a 4th place finish

He seems stuck on 4th.
But he could be World Champion if he keeps ticking up the points.

Been to Silverstone for many years - and chaos if wet - in the car parks.
You would think they would have fixed this by now.

a

Go Hamilton

AUSTRALIAN WINS BRITISH GRAND PRIX.

He's there on the podium & the national anthem is playing!

Well done Webber!

Shame Stoner crashed out on the last lap on the MotoGP earlier though.

Well it is Webber's home circuit.

Nah, petulant spoilt brat. Button yes.

And that is why I am not a gambling man

Next up, Murray to fold to Federer despite being one set up.

Well done webber. By all accounts he's a very nice chap - must be the English rubbing off on him after 15+ years living there.

Major brain fart from Stoner, the result could only have been better if Lorenzo had won but at least his back up in the lead of the championship.