Silverstone’s 2020 grands prix pique interest
Racing behind closed doors may have boosted interest in people wanting to get on track themselves
Despite the fact fans were not allowed to attend either of the recent Formula 1 grands prix at Silverstone, the Northamptonshire venue still appears to have benefited from the exposure after reporting an increase in appetite for its driving experiences and track days.
An independent national track day operator, TrackDays.co.uk – which offers a host of experiences such as single-seater sessions and even drifting at the circuit – recently reported its bookings for Silverstone were up as much as 10 per cent in the wake of the pair of closed-doors grands prix.
Silverstone itself has also noted an increase in its track hire activities, adding in a statement to Motor Sport: “Silverstone has just been showcased globally and it looked spectacular. We tend to see a lift in track day and experience bookings after a GP, and this year both bike and car track days are filling up. Having missed a few months due to COVID-19 our customers are keen to get back out on track and have some fun. We’ve seen increased bookings, particularly for experience gift vouchers.”
While part of the uptake is likely to be customers rescheduling from previously cancelled sessions, it could also be the case that the restricted public access to the grands prix themselves has triggered a timely supply and demand effect. Silverstone also reported over 1000 enquiries from people interested in becoming a marshal immediately after the events.