26/06/2013
NEWS STORY
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In a surprise move, organizers of this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone have announced that tickets will remain on sale 'at the gate' over the course of the weekend.
In recent weeks, Pitpass has run two articles relating to the fact that many tickets for the prestigious event had yet to be snapped up, a combination of a poor weather forecast for the weekend, the poor form of British teams and drivers and the high costs involved.
Pompously dismissed as scaremongering by one blogger, who suggested that Chris Sylt's article for the Independent was all about said journalist earning a "few quid" and that similar stories in the media were the result of "bottomfeeders", it would appear that there is indeed a problem with ticket sales this year.
According to yesterday's press release from Silverstone, "tickets for this weekend's Grand Prix will remain on sale during the event, enabling fans to ‘buy on the gate' when they arrive at the circuit".
Furthermore, "the best prices to attend the UK's premier motor sport event are still available via the Silverstone website or Silverstone Call Centre until 12 noon on Thursday. After this time tickets will be available 'on the gate'.
Bottomfeeders or not, the range of tickets still available is astonishing and includes General Admission on Friday at £75, General Admission on Saturday at £100, grandstand tickets for Sunday at £200 and 3 Day grandstand tickets at £235.
Grandstand upgrades will also be available for fans to purchase once they are at the event. A limited number of grandstand seats will be available for anyone wanting to upgrade their General Admission ticket to a Grandstand seat on either Saturday or Sunday. 'Upgrades' can be purchased from relevant ticket booths located within the venue.
"While we don't expect to reach the record attendance levels of 2011 and 2012, we are anticipating another big crowd here this weekend," said Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited. "Ticket sales were slower than usual during the initial sales period, but we have seen a significant upturn in interest and buying patterns since F1 returned to Europe. This, coupled with an improvement in the weather and a promising forecast for the weekend, has prompted us to put measures in place to sell tickets to fans deciding to turn up on the day. This weekend's attendance looks set to be one of our biggest in recent years."
'On the day' tickets will be available to purchase at Gate 1. Parking will also be available for fans driving to the circuit, costing £20 per car on Friday, £30 per car on Saturday and £60 per car on Sunday.
Such news is rare for the British round of the world championship, and many will remember those heady days when tickets had to be purchased well in advance.
Furthermore, with Silverstone's fee for the race increasing each year, the high cost of race tickets, a point firmly made by readers of said blogger, will continue to rise, making it even more difficult for fans at a time of continued austerity.