Fernando Alonso

 

Felipe Massa

 

M Schumacher

 

Lewis Hamilton

Friday practice session 1.  Becketts curve

Walked the track!

After the race (obviously) I walked on the track along with thousands of my newest British friends. Fantastic! Down Vale, around Club where Lewis held off Massa, past The Podium, and on to the grid / start-finish down the International Pit Straight. What a thrill!

Live from Silverstone

15 mins to go

Drivers have completed their installation laps and are taking their place on the grid. The place is packed!! I heard they were expecting more than 120,000 people here today.

We had a rain shower blow through just before the cars took the track. But it's sunny again and I suspect the track will dry out quickly.

They are now playing the British National Anthem. Formation lap coming up next.

Ready for the Race!

Supporting races are done. There's nothing head but Formula 1! (and an airshow)

What the Brits eat

Breakfast anyone?

My View

I'm directly across from the pit entry between Stowe and Club. I can see the back of the new Silverstone Wing where all the team's "motorhomes" are located. I can also see where the podium is located but I'm too far around to the left to actually see it.

Maybe a bit later!

Still a bit early, but you know how I love my Pimm's!

Once again early

The blue backpack holds my seat in the Vale grandstand. Now that I know where it is and what the view looks like (quite nice actually), I think I'll do some more exploring around.

Race Day

It's finally here, the day I've dreamed of for years: attending my first Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Welcome to Sunday Race Day for the 2011 British Grand Prix.

On the shuttle bus right now from one of the three park & ride lots headed towards the home of British motor racing, Silverstone. The main event starts at 1pm, seven hours from now. In the meantime we have GP2, GP3, and Porsche Supercup races.

It's looking to be a much warmer, drier day. A good day for racing. For today I have an assign seat in the "Vale" grandstand. This is located beween "Stowe" and the final turn on the track, "Club".

Here we go!!

I think I shall make this my FB profile pic

Greetings from the UK!

Weber gets the pole

Red Bull grabs one/two and Ferrari's Alonso and Massa claim the next two grid spots, respectively. My man Jensen Button qualifyed fifth. So much fun.

With Sunday's F1 grid now set, we turn to the first actual races of the weekend: the first of two of each of the GP2 and GP3 classes. And then perfect timing for it to start to pour down rain again. Smart of me to pick one of the covered grandstands.

Wow!! Q2 Complete

I can't tell you how intense and so much more exciting F1 in person! And this is just qualifying. A huge cheer let out when Button crossed the line after the time had run out in Q4 and he bettered his time to 4th to avoid elimination. My heart is pounding!!!

Here comes the final qualifying session. Come on Jensen, get that pole!

Saturday @ Silverstone

Arrived early to snag a good seat for today's third practice session and afternoon qualifying. With the pick of the litter before the crowds, I chose the end of the International Pit Straight right before the entrance to the Abbey corner. In yesterday's wet conditions, there were quite a few offs at this corner. While today promises to be dry (or drier), this should still prove to provide some great action.

The pits are directly across from me but are a bit lower than the main straightaway so you don't have a complete view. I'm am straight across from the last pit slot which happens to be Mark Webber's. Working up the line it's Vettel, Hamilton, Button, Alonso, Massa, Schumacher, ...

It's really starting to fill in with spectators now. I just might have to stay here all day!!

First up is GP3 qualifying at 8:45am and then Formula 1 3rd practice session at 10am.

The Grid and Start/Finish

Silverstone!!

Waiting for the 6am opening for Friday practice. F1 cars take the track at 9am. Rain and wet race track promises some real excitement!!

My Favorite Picture of The Day

Brabham-Repco BT24 built 1967, 3.0-litre V8
Driver: David Tingle
A compact spaceframe chassis and the reliable Oldsmobile-based Repco engine helped Danny Hulme win the 1967 World Championship in this car, just beating team boss Jack Brabham's sister machine.

Johnny Rutherford!!

McLaren MP4-12C

Goodwooders

Lunch on the Hill Climb

Just sitting in this great weather having lunch road side. Lewis Hamilton is about to go by.

Sent from my mobile device. Pardon my type-o's and briefness.

Happy Day!!

Goodwood!!

Perfect weather! Going to be an amazing day.

Packed

My crazy week and half in the UK is about to begin!  I'm all packed and heading into work before my 6:45 PM BA flight to LHR.  Here's the lowdown:

• Arrive LHR mid-day on Sat 7/2, meet Denise, pick up rental car and head to hotel in Reading
• Drive down and spend all day Sun 7/3 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (with Denise!!!)
• Work in Reading Mon 7/4 thru Thu 7/7
• Formula 1 British Grand Prix!!  Fri 7/8, Sat 7/9, and Sun 7/10
• Work in Reading Mon 7/11 thru Wed 7/13
• Fly home to SEA on Wed 7/13