24 drivers, 52 laps, 300,000 fans and 14 people to cut the grass… British Grand Prix by numbers
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UPDATED:
08:05 GMT, 3 July 2012
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone,
now resplendent with its new pit and paddock complex that was opened
ahead of last year's race, has firmly established itself as one of the
leading events on the Formula One calendar.
The Northamptonshire circuit can
claim to be a world-class venue, a far cry from a few years ago when F1
supremo Bernie Ecclestone derided its tawdry nature and suggested it no
longer deserved its place on the sport's stage.
Sparkling: Fernando Alonso celebrates winning the 2011 British Grand Prix
Millions of pounds have since been invested in all areas of the venue – track, facilities, grandstands, traffic management – to ensure Silverstone can claim to be amongst the best.
Here, we bring you all the facts and figures you need to know about Silverstone and the forthcoming British Grand Prix.
* The circuit hosted its first RAC International Grand Prix in 1948, and was the venue for the first-ever round of the Formula One World Championship in 1950.
* This year's race will be the 46th British Grand Prix, as part of the Formula One World Championship, to be held at Silverstone.
* 315,000 people attended last year's race – 88,000 on Friday, 105,000 on Saturday and 122,000 on Sunday. It is expected that total figure will be topped this year.
* Silverstone increased the capacity for this year, adding two new grandstands totalling 3,500 seats.
* Over 28,000 fans are expected to camp at this year's event, with 16,000 in the official Silverstone campsite
* The drivers will complete 52 laps of the 3.66 miles (5.890km) circuit for a total of 190.32 miles (306.290km) during the race.
* The lap record of one minute 30.874secs was set by Fernando Alonso in 2010, with an average speed of 145.01mph (233.373kph).
* Maggots is still the fastest corner, with F1 cars taking the bend at speeds of approximately 188mph and at 4.5g.
* For the fans there are 24 giant screens dotted around the track.
Big fan: Prince Harry (right) with British McLaren drivers Jenson Button (left), Lewis Hamilton (2nd right) and former F1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart (2nd left) at Silverstone
* There will be over 860 volunteer marshals on duty, which includes 405 spectator marshals, 388 incident marshals and 70 flag marshals. There are also breakdown and rescue personnel, start-line marshals, incident officers and pit marshals.
* The medical set-up at Silverstone is one of the best at any circuit in the world. Over the weekend, Philips Healthcare will be providing 500,000 worth of medical equipment and training medics to use the very latest life-saving systems
* Over the course of the three days a team of 110 medical staff will be on hand, including 36 doctors, 24 paramedics, eight nurses, a radiographer and an ultrasonographer.
* Fourteen people are employed to cut the grass at Silverstone, as well as 15 painters to keep the place looking smart.
* The amount of television cable laid out around Silverstone for the race would stretch from Dover to Calais and back.
Flash: More than 50m has been spent upgrading Silverstone
* An estimated 20,000 bottles of mineral water, 10,000 bottles of wine, and 6,000 bottles of champagne will be consumed during the weekend, with approximately 13,340 pieces of cake eaten.
* Approximately 50,000 hot drinks will be purchased from the fast food stalls on Sunday, and 10,000 litres of tomato sauce will be used.
* If all of the sausages eaten over the weekend were to be lined up, they would measure 1.08 miles, the equivalent of a lap around Silverstone's Stowe circuit
* The amount of chef days worked during the build-up to, and over the weekend of the race totals 648 days.
* Total expenditure of 54million is directly attributable to the hosting of the race, of which around 51 million is spent within a 60-mile radius of the Silverstone circuit.
* In excess of 9,000 hotel bed nights are generated across Northamptonshire as a result of the race.
