Driving Silverstone CircuitBookmark site for later

Introduction

Silverstone is obviously known as a Grand Prix circuit, but it can also be set up with International, National and Historic racing layouts.

If you are having a track or racing day at Silverstone you may use one of these alternative circuits. However, will get to use many of the famous corners. Here's a brief guide to driving Silverstone, with a description of the key corners on the National circuit.

Copse

If you are starting from the start/finish straight then the first corner, Copse, won't be taken as fast as when you come around for the second lap ! This is possibly the the most well known part of Silverstone circuit and also one of the most difficult and rewarding. You can't see the apex when braking so the turn-in is blind but there is plenty of width on exit. The key to fast laps at Silverstone is to develop the confidence to get back on the throttle early in order to use the exit width for high exit speed.

Race spectators can often see overtaking here both before and after the corner. This part of any Silverstone experience is truly exhilerating when you get it right !

Maggotts and Becketts

The next part of the track comprises two corners, the first being a left kink running straight into the second which is a hairpin right. Maggotts is fast and usually gives a wide approach with a late apex through Becketts and a wide exit to get power done for the straight ahead into Brooklands.

Brooklands

Here you should have a wide approach with a late turn into the left-hander as the apex appears late. If turning too early, you'll run too wide on exit. Again, this is a well known corner at Silverstone with overtaking possible before it depending on your line.

Luffield

You soon arrive at the next corner, Luffield, a long slow hairpin right, where you've got lots of options for the best driving line and exit, depending on weather conditions and the state of the Silverstone track surface. The key, as often, is a fast exit into the long Woodcote, leading back to the start.

Driving on the GP Circuit

If you happen to be on the Grand Prix circuit, then the Maggotts/Becketts combination turns into a left-right-left combination including Chapel Curve. The next corner, Stowe, is one of the key corners of the Silverstone GP circuit, with a very fast approach down Hanger straight.

You need the right racing technique around Stowe as its a right hander which tightens into a slight left on exit. How you drive here especially depends on the type of car you are driving on your track day or racing experience.

Bridge

Its also worth mentioning two more corners that you might enjoy on a racing day at Silverstone. Firstly there is Bridge, which you can drive in a fully committed way once you're used to it.

Priory / Brooklands / Luffield

This is the second combination that might also be in use. Its a left-right-left which you need to approach carefully if you're arriving at serious speed after Bridge.

Lap records (Outright)

These could obviously change, so to give you an idea...
Grand Prix: 1m 18s would put you amongst the fastest drivers in the world.
National: 48.27s would be pretty much as fast as you can go.
Historic GP: 1m would get you trophies.