First time F1 trip advice.

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tomhart9

tomhart9

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Hi GTP
A lot of you are hardcore F1 fans and Im sure a lot of you go to races. As someone who's hopefully going to their first race next summer I was wondering about some tips.
The family want to go out to a European race (likely Monza/Spa) and I was curious as to your experiences. Should I try find a package with everything included, or find everything separately? Also is there any European race taht are a favorite for the fans?

I did search for a similar thread but couldn't find anything, hopefully I haven't missed something...
 
I've been to Silverstone for the past two years, for the full weekend both times. It's very crowded, especially in between sessions when people are moving from grandstand to grandstand. The cars are very noisy. Generally GP2 and GP3 can be endured without earplugs, but not the F1 cars. Food and merchandise tend to be very expensive.

If it rains it can be quite unpleasant being stuck in it all day, and if it's sunny it can get extremely hot, so come prepared! Expect a lot of fog horns from the crowds too.

Screens put up around the circuit mean that you hardly miss any of the action, instead of only being able to see what happens at your corner. Friday and Saturday are general admission, so you can go to any grandstands you like, but for the race you have to have booked seats.

Silverstone is a blast, fantastic atmosphere, but I can envision it being better at Spa even with the horrendous weather.
 
Tom, the two races you have picked out are right up the in fan-favouritism. As for package/buy it yourself, I think that is down to what sort of accommodation you want and how much you want to spend.
I cant speak for Monza, but if you choose to got to Spa, secure accommodation before buying tickets. The camping grounds looked like fun when I was there, and you dont have to worry about transport. . However, if camping isnt your family's thing, you will need to work out how you are getting to the circuit as well. Driving to/from some of these tracks can be a nightmare too. I can go into more detail with that if you need it later.
Most stuff comes down to $/€/£ though - grandstand/GA, accom/transport type etc.
Good luck
 
Yeah my Mum definitely wouldn't want to camp :lol: I didn't think about how to get to the track from wherever we're staying... I'm guessing some kind of shuttle bus might be best, or even walking if traffic is going to that bad. Depends how far we end up staying away from the track. I don't think we'll be going for top top tickets but possibly above average.
Thanks for your help! The more info the better!! :)
 
tomhart9
Yeah my Mum definitely wouldn't want to camp :lol: I didn't think about how to get to the track from wherever we're staying... I'm guessing some kind of shuttle bus might be best, or even walking if traffic is going to that bad. Depends how far we end up staying away from the track. I don't think we'll be going for top top tickets but possibly above average.
Thanks for your help! The more info the better!! :)
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The tickets for Spa 2013 are already on sale, if you want tickets above avarage (silver) you will need to order them now, otherwise best spots will be gone....

Here is the link, if you want to check it out ;

http://www.belgium-grand-prix.com/nl/2680-belgium/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SN-GP-F1-Belgique-NL[
 
Ahhhh brilliant! Thanks for the link, I guess the official site would be the best place to get them? There's ridiculous amounts of people who sell them :lol:
 
tomhart9
Ahhhh brilliant! Thanks for the link, I guess the official site would be the best place to get them? There's ridiculous amounts of people who sell them :lol:
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If you want to be sure of a legit ticket, yes... (these tickets have numbered seats, so you are sure of the place chosen)

A very nice place to watch is the silver tickets in the bus stop. A grandstand is specially build for the F1 alongside the track, a spot that only can be seated during the F1 !!!
 
Looking at the map on their website I can see why it would, but I'd imagine it'd be a hell of a walk if you wanted to go have a look from a different position?
 
tomhart9
Looking at the map on their website I can see why it would, but I'd imagine it'd be a hell of a walk if you wanted to go have a look from a different position?
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True, but during the race I would stay seated on the same place. And on race day everything is quit strict, meaning you are not able to enter other grandstands then the one you bought youre ticket for. The rest of the places you would be able to watch would be considered 'bronze'. The 'bronze' tickets are the cheapest and these spots will be so crowed, it would be possible you could not get true them, meaning you would miss most of the race...
 
Since we are talking Spa, I will add details from my trip this year. There are actually several places to buy legit tickets. I got mine from spagrandprix.com, which is linked from the circiut's page. Others I know of are the one linked above, bookF1.com and the official F1 site. There may be more, but that is what I know of. Prices vary between websites - the offical F1 site was way more expensive when I booked.

Unless you are camping, the only place to stay where you can walk to the track is Francorchamps (Spa is several miles away), but it will cost ^^^. Unless you go in a group and get a bus of some sort to/from the circuit, the only other transport I know of is the public bus #294/395. This runs to Verviers, which is on the main train line Brussels-Leige-Aachen. Leige would be the most convenient, because there are more trains, but I stayed in Aachen and had no problem. The main problem with the bus is that on Thursday/Friday, it only runs a regular timetable (every hour) and is packed. They put on specials on Sat/Sun which were better.

For places to sit and getting around the track, you will always be arriving at the circuit at La Source, so anything from bus stop to Eau Rouge is nice and close. The grandstands at Les Combes are a fair way off. I would still recommend walking a lap on Friday/Saturday watching a practice session or support race from different corners. There is a path from Pouhon back to Eau Rouge to shortcut back to the top of the circuit if needed.
I was in silver 2, could see Eau Rouge, but the cars disappeared over the hill quickly. I knew people in Silver 1, and from there you can see turn 1, and the back of the pit garages, which is good celeb spotting on Saturday.
If you go GA, plan on getting there early on Sunday and not moving. In front of the TV on Kemmel straight, Les Combes and Pouhon fill up quickest.

Hope this helps.:)
 
That's a great help!
I'll have to get speaking to my family and see what we wanna do. TBH I think they'll want to go to sunny Monza :lol:
 
Can't argue with that. Friday in the rain this year was pretty miserable. Got sunburnt Saturday and Sunday though.
 

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