Ticket refunds may cost Silverstone millions
9 July, 2012
Jul.9 (GMM) This weekend’s British grand prix weather caused debacle could cost Silverstone millions, track boss Richard Phillips has admitted.
Organisers have vowed full refunds for thousands of spectators who heeded the circuit’s plea to stay away from the mud and traffic chaos on Saturday.
“It’s going to cost us a lot of money,” he told the Guardian.
“I honestly don’t know the figure, but it could be a lot more than hundreds of thousands [of pounds].”
Phillips did, however, hail the patience and perseverance of the Silverstone crowd, after an ordeal that was recognised even from within the F1 paddock.
“I saw fathers with their sons and daughters, old ladies with backpacks and teenagers, all covered in mud and wearing their coats and hats,” said O Estado de S.Paulo correspondent Livio Oricchio.
“I have never seen anything like this country. They are the best fans,” said the Brazilian correspondent.
Mercedes’ Norbert Haug agreed.
“They are the best fans in the world,” said the German. “They have taken everything – the rain, the cold – and they still came in their thousands.”
Subbed by AJN.
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Oh, Just to make it clear, we were told on saturday that we probably wouldnt get in on sunday either so we had no option other than to return to devon. One 12year old boys christmas present totally ruined and my idea of the sport somewhat tarnished, well at least the silverstone part. Jubba
2 campervans with 4 people, all Silverstone virgins. Held in traffic outside Silverstone for 7hours only to be told by the police we wouldnt be allowed in on friday OR saturday and didnt know about sunday. Tickets payed for christmas 2011 £748, so they knew we were coming, NOBODY from Silverstone had the BALLS to come and talk to anybody!!! The hub of F1, Bullshit they cant even park a f*****g car. Not like its not happened before, you would think that the corporate somebodys would have done something about it before, but seems they too busy pocketing our money to think about doing something constructive. Love the sport but hate the crap. Bring on Australia next year sod Silverstone. Jubba
Anyone know how to get a refund? We were promised this wouldn’t happen again after the events 10 years ago. Typical corporate BS, as all the money has been spent on a £27,000,000 crystal palace where only the rich can sit drinking their champagne and eating their three course meals, whilst we suffer in tents and camper vans. Let’s see some investment that benefits the fans that have to suffer in the wind and rain year after year. I couldn’t beleive my eyes when I saw disabled people left to sit uncovered in the rain and wind, whilst Jake Humphries asked the coporate few if they were warm and happy!! Sick to my stomack!
Its easy a few thousand meters of steel sheeting for the cars and provisions for helping those stuck in the mud. Or a decent park and ride system with dedicated lanes for the shuttle buses to keep the site free for the disabled and dedicated campers!!!! Simple!
P.S. I’ll suffer it all again next year as I love F1
I am seasoned supporter of Silverstone grand prix.
I paid for three days of silverstone & camping, I only had one day & that was the race day on Sunday, it was still great.
The question of refunds now rears it’s ugly head,everyone I met had a great time & will be dining out on exaggerated stories of mud for months to come.
Lets be generous & tell the silverstone organisers to give the refund money to less fortunate people than ourselves maybe the Help the Heroes fund, & hope the organisers can stop this happening again.
Yes the Brits have awesome fans,been there 3 times..yet Bernie wanted to axe the Grand Prix at one stage!! At other countries people don’t even bother to go to a high profile sport like F1..
The British fans have to be the most dedicated … They put up with a dump like Silverstone year after year.