Silverstone - Woodcote or Becketts

[Scarletpimpofnel]

I like to be in a stand to keep the sun/rain off. I've been at Woodcote twice and it seems to have a pretty good view over a couple of corners and straights but I'm wondering about Becketts next year for the same reason.

Any views on which is better in your opinion? Thanks.

[coppice]

Speeds are lower but Village tends to offer a good view . Cars are more or less in the same post code as you are , speeds are lower but overtaking more common. I wouldn't be paid to watch at Becketts. Every journalist raves about it (but hasn't actually stood there for years ) but the spectacle is diminished by the fact that the cars are going away from you. For big speed , it's Copse for me . Ultimately, it is an awful track now , but that is the price you pay for F1's leverage .

[stevemcs]

For the moto gp we always go village, lots of overtaking, granted village a has no roof. This year we ended up in woodcote and it was rubbish, on the Saturday we got drenched and had to the the umbrella up in the stand.

I don’t think there is a decent spot to watch f1 as there is no overtaking- if you want that then sit near the pits.

I’d probably go copse for f1 or Becketts for the Corning speed and change of direction

[Harry Flatters]

We have been with 'Club Silverstone', which uses the Becketts stand, for the last few years and found the viewing really impressive.

You first pick up the cars as the exit Copse, then you have them through the entire Maggots, Becketts, Chapel complex (the speed that an F1 car carries here never fails to impress) and only then do they move away from you as they get on to the Hanger Straight.

Albeit a bit further away, you also catch the cars at the beginning of the lap as they exit Village, go round The Loop an on to the Wellington Straight. We even saw the Stop Oil muppets invade the track from our seat in the Becketts stand.

You then have a diamond TV screen to follow the cars for the rest of the lap.

You do get some overtaking in the complex, but possibly more around Village, Brooklands, Luffield and on to Woodcote. Also some brave 'sends' into Copse and Stowe.

I was at the MotoGP a couple of weeks ago and fortunate to have hospitality in the Legends Club, which is the lower section of the BRDC building (I think). Anyway, whilst our view from the terrace gave us a great view of the entry to Brooklands, the bikes then are away round Luffield and on to Woodcote, much of which you cannot see because of the trackside hoardings and furniture. All you could see were crash hats, you wouldn't see an F1 car at all. So whilst a nice experience, unless you were in the top floor BRDC section with a more elevated view, I wouldn't watch an F1 race from there.

Edited by Harry Flatters on Saturday 19th August 08:34

[Scarletpimpofnel]

Thanks all. Mixed messages re Becketts above!

In fact it's given me an idea, over the coming years I might get tickets for different corners each year, see them all and judge for myself, starting with Becketts next year.

[coppice]

Go on the Friday and walk around- it's what I do on my now rare visits to the GP . I found a few hours walking and watching at Becketts(as bad I had remembered ) Copse (terrific) and Farm/Village told me much more about different drivers' technique than hours of TV watching . and watching from different perspectives is so much better than staying in one location . I do this at all race meetings (and I go a lot ) but it can be a bit of a bind, obviously, the more people are there

Edited by coppice on Tuesday 22 August 07:23

[Scarletpimpofnel]

coppice said:

Go on the Friday and walk around- it's what I do on my no rare visits to the GP . I found few hours walking and watching at Becketts(as bad I had remembered ) Copse (terrific) and Farm/Village told me much more about different drivers' technique than hours of TV watching . and watching from different perspectives is so much better than staying in one location . I do this at all race meetings (and I go a lot ) but it can be a bit of a bind, obviously, the more people are there

That's a good idea. Does a Friday ticket allow you to walk around the entire track and also go in the stands? Many thanks.

[stevemcs]

If its anything like moto gp then you cannot go in all of the stands like you used to.

[coppice]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

That's a good idea. Does a Friday ticket allow you to walk around the entire track and also go in the stands? Many thanks.

I suspect it doesn't , but while stands are fine for watching a race , they are often not as good as watching a bit closer, from trackside for studying technique . As I said earlier , careful observation from the right spot can be a revelation . An example from 2022 - obviously I knew Verstappen was a brilliant driver but what struck me was that unlike many drivers he is 100% on it from the first hot lap , first time past me into Copse his speed was literally breathtaking , and visibly faster. Same man at Village in the wet - same thing, but now on a completely different line to anybody else.

[Scarletpimpofnel]

Thanks both above posters. A Friday ticket isn't something I'd considered before, but seems it would add a new dimension. Thanks.

[SpudLink]

Out of Woodcote or Becketts I would choose Woodcote for the race. Becketts is worth trying during practice or qualifying, just to watch how the F1 cars defy physics..

[BenA27]

Becketts is always my go to - speed of the cars coming past and a good view of the Village/Loop section too. Used to sit in Woodcote back when the pits were there, but it was very much like sitting on a straight.

Just throwing it out there, sat in Luffield a few years ago (and have done for BTCC etc too). Nice covered stand, good view of one of the main overtaking zones, I'd take Luffiled over Woodcote

[mat205125]

The large general admission area at Vale is the best Silverstone has to offer for F1

[stemll]

coppice said:

Scarletpimpofnel said:

That's a good idea. Does a Friday ticket allow you to walk around the entire track and also go in the stands? Many thanks.

I suspect it doesn't , but while stands are fine for watching a race , they are often not as good as watching a bit closer, from trackside for studying technique . As I said earlier , careful observation from the right spot can be a revelation . An example from 2022 - obviously I knew Verstappen was a brilliant driver but what struck me was that unlike many drivers he is 100% on it from the first hot lap , first time past me into Copse his speed was literally breathtaking , and visibly faster. Same man at Village in the wet - same thing, but now on a completely different line to anybody else.

If you have a weekend grandstand ticket then on Friday and Saturday you can sit wherever you want. That was the case in 2022 anyway. Don't believe a GA ticket lets you into the stands on any day.