General Information

• Circuit : Silverstone
• Location : 5 km south of Toucester, England
• Opened : 1948
• Grand Prix Held : 42
• Years : 1950-1954, 1956, 1958, 1960 1963-1985 (odd years), 1987-2008
• First Grand Prix : 1950
• Last Grand Prix : 2008
• Circuit Length : 5.141 km
• Race Distance : 308.355 km (60 laps)
• Circuit Details : Permanent road course, Clockwise
• Corners : 17
• Spectator capacity : 90,000 General admission, 60,000 Grandstand seats

Recent Stats

• Lap Record : M Schumacher - 1:18.739 (2004, Ferrari)
• Fastest Lap 2008 : K Raikkonen - 1:32.150 (Ferrari)
• Pole 2008 : H Kovalainen - 1:21.049 (Mclaren-Mercedes)
• Podium 2008 : 1. L Hamilton, 2. N Heidfeld, 3. R Barrichello

History

Silverstone is owned and operated by the British Racing Drivers Club and opened for racing in 1948 using the runways and service roads of a wartime airfield. The outline is still visible, but constant development and massive investment are still needed to bring Silverstone’s facilities up to Bernie Ecclestone’s standards.

Revisions to the circuit, enhanced safety precautions, new pits and a redeveloped paddock complex are just part of the ongoing story.

Silverstone hosted the first-ever round of the world championship in 1950 and is one of only two circuits to host a Championship race consistently since then.

However, 2009 marks the final year that Silverstone, with the famous Copse, Becketts and Stowe corner will be on the calendar as in 2010 Donington Park takes over the hosting of the British GP.