Silverstone "is set for record crowds for this year's Formula 1 British Grand Prix after working with the FIA to create additional general admission areas," according to Ian Parkes of AUTOSPORT. The Northamptonshire venue is aiming for a race-day crowd of just over 150,000, and with a three-day attendance pushing 400,000 for the July 8-10 event. It is part of the "latest set of initiatives" of Managing Dir Patrick Allen, "who has turned around the fortunes of the circuit following regular annual losses," last year recording a profit for the first time in 10 years of £1.2M. Allen: "In terms of general admission, the initial capacity [of 30,000] for Sunday was sold out, but we are going to increase that by another 10,000 to 40,000. We have been working with [FIA Race Dir] Charlie Whiting to see if we could move barriers and catch-fencing to create extra space." Silverstone has also acquired a further 600 seats, "taking over a third of what has traditionally been the British Racing Drivers' Club grandstand at Abbey." Allen has been working with F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone on how to "further generate revenues." Allen said, "I've applied a different tack to previous regimes because what he doesn't like is if you go to him with a begging bowl saying you can no longer afford the race and asking to renegotiate the contract" (AUTOSPORT, 5/12).
MAIN ATTRACTION: REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported Allen said that Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is an "even bigger draw after recent setbacks." Allen: "I think now there’s the factor of Lewis having to come from behind and there’s nothing the Brits like more than to get behind their man coming from the back of the pack. And he’s done it before. I think it makes it that much more exciting. I think if he was still winning race after race after race, it might be the opposite effect from last year" (REUTERS, 5/12).
