Silverstone gives race fans the all-clear

07/07/2012

Organisers at Silverstone have given the all-clear for all ticket holders to attend tomorrows Grand Prix... whatever the weather.

After fans who only had passes for the public car parks were told to stay away today, tonight Richard Phillips, managing director of Silverstone Circuits, said that while Sunday remains a massive challenge all tickets holders are welcome.

"We had to make a difficult decision yesterday which was really upsetting," he told reporters, "but I have to say today has been a much better day.

"A remarkable number of people actually got here somehow, I'm not quite sure how," he continued, "and we are very grateful to the people who did stay at home. At least it's given us breathing space now and we are looking forward to tomorrow. The fans seem to be very supportive and there's a bit of a Dunkirk spirit about this one."

Indeed, the fans have been magnificent, putting up not only with the nightmare of getting to and from the circuit, but also the extended qualifying session which at times looked as though it might be abandoned.

Rather than slow handclaps and jeering for the action to resume, throwing tantrums or bottles on to the track, the fans cheered the drivers and teams who reacted by performing impromptu Mexican waves (above).

Bernie Ecclestone, who has been a thorn in the side of the Northamptonshire circuit for as long as anyone can remember, was quick to leap to its defence today whilst also warmly praising the fans.

I'm really, really upset for the fans," he told the BBC, "but in reality if it was you running the race what would you do?

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