Fans flock to enjoy the Speedmachine experience – but at a healthy price
There was uproar when it was announced that the World Rallycross Championship would shed its spiritual home of Lydden Hill. After all, Silverstone didn’t even have a circuit and it was forced to create one.
Last weekend’s event, branded Speedmachine, was packed with fans. If there was disquiet at the move north, it was drowned out by the click of turnstiles.
The event bolted on so much more than racing. The food festival, the demonstrations by car makes, the esports element and the displays and music made Speedmachine more of a carnival than a motorsport event.
The weather helped too, of course, and everyone was smiling.
It was also noticeable that the majority of visitors were of a much younger demographic than is normally seen at a race meeting.
The open paddock is nothing new for this branch of the sport, but fans mingling with heroes is always pleasant to see.
If there could be a cause for concern, it would be the price of the tickets. At Lydden Hill, the World Rallycross showdown was roughly the same cost as a day at British Touring Cars. Lydden, clearly, doesn’t have the infrastructure of an F1 venue, but Silverstone seemed to realise this and set the price of weekend tickets from £70 for both days of the weekend.
While there were a bevy of entertainments to keep 27,000 fans occupied at Silverstone, there wasn’t much in the way of on-track action. That could be the only real gripe, but the overall impression of the event was superb.