Preview - British Grand Prix

Seeing as the British Grand Prix marks the half-way point of the season and that it is First F1's home race, I thought it would be a good idea to try a new layout for this week's race preview. All feedback is encouraged.

The 59th British Grand Prix marks the ninth round of the 2008 championship hosted at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, England. This years race marks 60 years of racing at Silverstone, but it was announced this week that next years race will be the last when the Grand Prix goes to Donnington Park in 2010. In this new style First F1 preview, I'll guide you through all the facts and preparation for the weekend.

Last Years Race
Lewis Hamilton started on pole in the 2007 British race, with world championship rivals, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso in second and third. Massa qualified fourth but stalled on the grid and started from the pit lane. Raikkonen was close but not close enough to take the lead form the Briton when the race began. Kubica, Kovalainen and Heidfeld were behind Alonso in fourth, fifth and sixth. Felipe Massa began his way back through the grid with an impressive display of overtaking. First was Albers, who was followed by Davidso, Button, Barrichello, Luizzi, Wurz, Speed, Rosberg, Coulthard and Trulli. Meanwhile at the front, Raikkonen was not letting Hamilton out of his sight, following his every move with Alonso close behind the Finn. Hamilton came into the pits but made a mistake and tried to leave too early. He recovered but lost time. Raikkonen pitted and comfortably took Hamilton for the lead. Kimi wasn't leading for long, as Alonso got in front of both of them after his pit stop. Alonso laps Scott Speed from the lead but Speed wasn't paying attention and made contact with Wurz giving the Austrian the position and retiring. Kimi Raikkonen got the jump on Alonso during his second pit stop and won the race in front of Alonso, Hamilton, Kubica, Massa, Heidfeld, and Kovalainen.

Information
The first British Grand Prix was held in 1948, before the official FIA Formula One World Championship began. When it did begin, in 1950, the Grand Prix was the first race on the calendar, making it the first official F1 Grand Prix. Since the inaugural season, the British Grand Prix has been included in every world championship season. The Italian Grand Prix is the only other race to have that statistic. From 1964 to 1986 the race alternated between Silverstone and Brands Hatch. The circuit at Aintree has hosted five Grands Prix with Silverstone hosting the rest.

The 2008 Formula One Santander British Grand Prix is the 795th F1 Grand Prix. It is hosted between the 4th to the 6th of July. The race will be 60 laps. Last years pole position lap time was set by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton with a time of 1:19.997. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest lap time in the race was 1:20.638.

Circuit
The Silverstone Circuit is a very old circuit which has seen many changes over the years to adapt to Formula One. Copse is the first corner which spreads the field out strait away, making first corner incidents less likely at Silverstone. A small mistake round the first turn will send you off the track in a strait line. The S bends of Maggots, Becketts and Chapel follow with the Hangar Strait taking the cars down to stowe. Silverstone is not very heavy breaking but Stowe is the heaviest braking corner on the track with deceleration of around 100 km/h. This also makes Stowe a good overtaking spot. After a few more short straits, drivers arrive at the Abbey chicane before entering the fast right-hand turn of bridge. Once past the final few corners the drivers head though turn 17 of Woodcote to complete the lap. The current distance of the circuit is 5.141km or 3.194 miles. The lap record is 1:18.739 set by Micheal Schumacher in a Ferrari in 2004.

Timetable

Championship
With four different drivers having led the championship, the 2008 season proves to be much wider open than last year. As expected, Ferrari brought home a 1-2 finish in France two weeks ago, and with Silverstone being another Ferrari circuit the Italian team should be happy. One thing the Italians don't have is the overwhelming support that is brought to Silverstone for the British drivers. Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Lewis Hamilton will all be hoping for a strong performance in front of their fans.

News
Silverstone always attracts a great atmosphere and often produces some great races but the British weather can always play a part. Rain has been stated as probable for Sundays race with the whole weekend overcast. In other non weather-related news, it has been confirmed the British Grand Prix will leave Silverstone after the 2009 race for Donnigton park in 2009. Bernie Ecclestone has said that the move will put British motor sport back on the map.