Silverstone MD suggests four-day British Grand Prix weekend

The Formula 1 British Grand Prix could become a four-day race weekend to offer motorsport fans more on-track action.

Speaking on the main stage at motorsport event Autosport International in Birmingham yesterday (Thursday), the managing director of Silverstone (pictured), where the British GP is staged, said that Formula 1 needed to change the format of the weekend. 

Stuart Pringle said: “We’re looking to extend the weekend. I’m working hard on Formula 1. I believe they need to change the format of the weekend. They say: ‘Oh well it’s the FIA, they’ve got to do the systems test and stuff’ – well, do them a day earlier.

“Let’s do some stuff on Thursday. There are a lot of people who want to come and see things, and three days isn’t really enough.

“Let’s make it that big, best part of a week’s festival. People do turn up at Silverstone on a Tuesday and put the tent up, and that’s it, they’re in.”

A record crowd of 400,000 fans attended last year’s British GP over the three days and Formula 1’s popularity has inspired the potential change to four days to include more entertainment. 

While the race format would stick to its traditional Friday, Saturday and Sunday running, Thursday could include more races from support categories. 

A similar set-up is already utilised for the Australian Grand Prix, which runs across four days with Supercars, Porsche Carrera Cup and S5000 on the Thursday. 

The British Formula 1 Grand Prix is set to take place July 7-9.