Jam Today

Sir,

Is it not time that the British motorsport enthusiast got a better deal from Silverstone? When one is paying a minimum of £58 for a Grand Prix ticket entitling one to nothing more than a parking space and a (fairly slim) chance of finding a spot where one can see a reasonable amount of the action. I suggest that there ought to be some onus upon the organisers to ensure that one can leave the event within a reasonable timescale.

The traffic marshalling upon arrival was superb, with impeccable directions right up to the actual space where I was to park. Upon departure, however, not a marshall was to be seen until the final 200 yards or so leading to the exit. It took me three hours to get out of the field in which I had parked, and a further hour to reach the public road. (Once outside the circuit, progress was excellent, Northamptonshire Constabulary having done a first-rate job.)

Obviously, with the best part of 90,000 people all wanting to leave the circuit at about the same time, there will be problems; but four hours? I was mentally prepared for about half that time, though I would still have considered it a bit excessive.

If Silverstone Circuits Ltd are unwilling to spend just a little more of the millions of pounds which they will have received in ticket sales, in order to provide sensible traffic control from all car parks, perhaps the Grand Prix ought to be moved to a different venue. I am told that Donington Park, for example, is much easier to get away from. If any other readers feel similarly aggrieved at Silverstone’s obvious lack of concern for the paying customers, may I urge them to write to the directors of the company expressing their concern? If enough people complain to them, perhaps they will take some remedial action for the future.

John Waine, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.