Silverstone

United_Kingdom

Silverstone is a medium sized village in Northamptonshire, England. It lies about half way between Northampton and Oxford. Population about 2,000.

In the Middle Ages the village trade was primarily in timber from the surrounding Whittlewood forest. Linnell Bros. still operate a woodyard to this day. Fish ponds on the north side of the village fed the villagers.

About half a mile to the south of the village is the world famous Silverstone Circuit, the traditional home of the British Grand Prix. The racing circuit is on the site of RAF Silverstone. For one week in the year it gets a bit hectic, but for the rest of the time it is a pleasant shire village with a healthy community spirit.

  • Hazelborough Wood. Tracts of ancient woodland around a large area of the region making up the Whittlewood Forest. Bluebells can be found in mid-spring.

Hazelborough Wood. Tracts of ancient woodland around a large area of the region making up the Whittlewood Forest. Bluebells can be found in mid-spring.

  • Silverstone Circuit. Like so many of England's racing circuits, Silverstone started life as an aerodrome. When the Second World War ended in 1945, England's other two circuits, Donington Park and the legendary Brooklands, had fallen into disrepair. And so it was that the outer taxiways and interconnecting runways of Silverstone became adopted by the Royal Automobile Club as the home for the British Grand Prix in 1948. The circuit was fast and challenging and in 1949 the shape was formed that remains the basis of the track to this day.
    • When the Formula One World Championship began in 1950, Silverstone held the very first round, won by Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo. In 1951 the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) was handed the lease by the RAC, and huge modifications were made. The pits were moved to the straight between Woodcote and Copse, from the Farm straight where they had been, and a short circuit was built within the larger circuit, cutting from Becketts corner to Woodcote.
    • From 1955 the British Grand Prix swapped venues between Aintree and Silverstone, but with the advent of the 1960s, Aintree fell out of favour and the race was switched between Silverstone and Brands Hatch.
    • In 1971 the BRDC bought the entire 720 acre plot on which Silverstone sits and went about redeveloping the track. New pits were built and a chicane was erected at Woodcote which provided close finishes and great overtaking opportunities.
    • In 1987, with speeds at the circuit reaching astounding levels, a corner was built before Woodcote, and in 1992 a new complex of corners was created between Farm and Woodcote.
    • In the 1990s various upgrades were made to the track's facilities. There is now a racing school at the circuit, and with government funding a new bypass has been built, greatly improving access to the once notoriously out-of-the-way venue.
  • Porsche Driving Experience Centre, Hangar Straight, Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, NN12 8GR (within Silverstone Circuit, +44 1327 855911.
  • Whittlebury Park. Golf, hotel and camping site during races.

Silverstone Circuit. Like so many of England's racing circuits, Silverstone started life as an aerodrome. When the Second World War ended in 1945, England's other two circuits, Donington Park and the legendary Brooklands, had fallen into disrepair. And so it was that the outer taxiways and interconnecting runways of Silverstone became adopted by the Royal Automobile Club as the home for the British Grand Prix in 1948. The circuit was fast and challenging and in 1949 the shape was formed that remains the basis of the track to this day.

  • When the Formula One World Championship began in 1950, Silverstone held the very first round, won by Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo. In 1951 the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) was handed the lease by the RAC, and huge modifications were made. The pits were moved to the straight between Woodcote and Copse, from the Farm straight where they had been, and a short circuit was built within the larger circuit, cutting from Becketts corner to Woodcote.
  • From 1955 the British Grand Prix swapped venues between Aintree and Silverstone, but with the advent of the 1960s, Aintree fell out of favour and the race was switched between Silverstone and Brands Hatch.
  • In 1971 the BRDC bought the entire 720 acre plot on which Silverstone sits and went about redeveloping the track. New pits were built and a chicane was erected at Woodcote which provided close finishes and great overtaking opportunities.
  • In 1987, with speeds at the circuit reaching astounding levels, a corner was built before Woodcote, and in 1992 a new complex of corners was created between Farm and Woodcote.
  • In the 1990s various upgrades were made to the track's facilities. There is now a racing school at the circuit, and with government funding a new bypass has been built, greatly improving access to the once notoriously out-of-the-way venue.

Porsche Driving Experience Centre, Hangar Straight, Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, NN12 8GR (within Silverstone Circuit, +44 1327 855911.

Whittlebury Park. Golf, hotel and camping site during races.

The White Horse, White Horse Stocks Hill Silverstone NN12 8UW (10-minute walk from Silverstone Circuit, +44 1327 858550. 12:00 to 24:00. The White Horse is a 17th-century coaching inn that serves traditional pub food and provides free Wi-Fi.

Six miles south of Silverstone Circuit, the North Bucks market town of Buckingham makes a good stop over or handy location for accommodation and supplies.