As the weather was so pleasant, Mrs Motorcardiaries and I decided it was time for a jolly. The Young Driver Test was the first in-season F1 test at Silverstone since 2008 and, since we had enjoyed that so much, we decided to go and savour the sound of 2.4L V8 grand prix cars let loose around Silverstone for the last time. It really was a charming and informal way to deafen and sunburn oneself.
Adrian Sutil was back performing on UK soil less than a week after his Goodwood Festival of Speed acrobatic.
Nicholas Prost was back in familiar black and gold Lotus colours during the World Endurance Championship’s mid-season hiatus. The Lotus looked amazing compliant throughout – just so smooth and easy to drive. It’s no wonder its race pace is so good.
Brooklands and Luffield provide an interest challenge. Not many BRDC members using their private grandstand though.
Susie Wolff suffered with locking brakes into Luffield. Through Abbey though she was mighty. The Williams was by far the loudest machine on track.
Just a few weeks since Kimiya Sato’s Auto GP triumph at Silverstone, he was out in the Sauber. Sideways. Definitely a talent of watch out for.
Gary Paffett did his usual metronomic, professional job in a McLaren which still looks a little stiff-limbed compared to its rivals. One can’t help but wonder how things might’ve turned out if he had got the second McLaren seat alongside Alonso in 2007 in place of Hamilton…
Bianchi was spectacular in the Marussia. Somebody give this guy a competitive seat.
Vettel in the Red Bull through Copse gave me goosebumps every lap. Wow.
Caterham was having the big lift through Copse and Abbey. Just not as quick as the others. The team needs a silver bullet.
Toro Rosso returned to the pits on a flat-bed and under a tarpaulin. I love the reflective glass about the pitlane, aping the arrangement at Le Mans. The BRDC missed a trick by not recreating this on the new Wing complex.
Vettel pounded round on set programmes with updates from the pitwall on his progress.
Davide Rigon took over the Ferrari from Felipe Massa in the afternoon.
Wonderful to see James Calado out in the Force India towards the end of the day. After a tough GP2 season, he deserves a break. Definitely one of the finest wheel-to-wheel racers out there.
And the queue for the pitlane walk at the end of the day’s activities. We declined.
All-in-all, a terrific way to spend a Friday and the 7,000 others who attended would doubtless agree. Let us hope that this spectacle is revisited every year as F1 needs to make itself more accessible and this is a great way to start.